Soulsville - Isaac Hayes

Black man, born free

At least that’s the way it’s supposed to be

Chains that binds him are hard to see

Unless you take this walk with me

Place where he lives has got plenty of names

Slums, ghetto and black belt, they are one and the same

And I call it «Soulsville»

Any kind of job is hard to find

That means an increase in the welfare line

Crime rate is rising too

If you are hungry, what would you do?

Rent is two months past due and the building that’s falling apart

Little boy needs a pair of shoes and this is only a part of Soulsville

Some of the brothers' got plenty of cash

Tricks on the corner, gonna see to that

Some like to smoke and some like to blow

Some are even strung out on a fifty dollar Jones

Some are trying to ditch reality by getting so high

Only to find out you can never touch the sky

'Cause your hoods are in Soulsville, oh yeah

Every Sunday morning, I can hear the old sisters say

Hallelujah, Hallelujah, trust in the Lord to make a way, oh yeah

I hope that He hear their prayers 'cause deep in their souls they believe

Someday He’ll put an end to all this misery that we have in Soulsville

Oh yeah, Soulsville, Soulsville, Soulsville, Soulsville, Soulsville