Hungry little baby on a cold hard floor cryin' for milk but there ain't no more We can't get credit at the grocery store that's how it is when you're poor Cry tears little baby for the future in store I got trouble for a child born poor Slave all your life not knowin' what for that's how it is when you're poor There's not enough money to go to school I can't afford the clothes to fit the social fools Lord forgive me when I curse the rules but that's how it is when you're poor Gotta work hard just the bills to be paid Sixteen hours there's a livin' to be made Never get ahead just livin' day to day that's how it is when you're poor Hard work buried in the back of my mind Haven't got much money but have a lotta time It's been done doin' nothin' but tryin' that's how it is when you're poor Old house needs fix but that'll have to wait I dream about the life that could be real great I hope it's not long more it'll be too late but that's how it is when you're poor