These distraught thoughts of a single mother in a homeless
shelter

About pain and heartache, ain't nothing you can tell her

The case worker says that she should find a job

But does this worker know what kind of jobs that there are?

Degrading things like cleaning up people's vomit

For a little bit of dough, and plus your brain gets nothing from
it

I'm smarter than that this girl thinks to herself

I'm worth more than that, she thinks to herself

She pours a drink for herself while she stares out the window

This guy says he got work for her, maybe she should go to him yo


The money's good, and plus he'll dress her up nice

She left her baby's daddy cuz he beat her up twice

She don't really like sex

But she hates welfare checks

And where there's money, that's where she thinks there's respect


And what's this girl's purpose? Will she self-destruct?

When this sisters about to go down, who's there to help her up?

who's there for me?

[Guru]

These distraught thoughts of a young man in a rooming house

This messed up life, this poverty, he could do without

But what options does he have when all hope is gone?

A brother gotta eat, plus all the Henny and all the smoke is
gone

All it takes is one quick stick


Gotta fill his belly now, which vic should he pick?

He does his dirt all by his lonely, forget his homies

He doesn't fell like splitting any loot, them suckas be acting
phony

So much potential but all gone to waste

Now he lurks in night, with a loaded gun on his waist

Too late for this lost soul, his life's in a chokehold

Mentality is weak, and doing crime is all he knows

Never caring who he hurts, as long as he's taking money

Forget an education, and legal ways of making money

And what's this kid's purpose? Will he self-destruct?

When a brother's about to go down, who's there to help him up?


(Les Nubians singing Chorus)


[Guru]

Who's there for my people on the streets? (Who's there? Who's
there?)

Who's there for my people who got nothing to eat? (Who's there?
Who's there?)

They build more prisons, and close down schools

Who's there to teach the children the golden rules?(Who's there?
Who's there?)

Who's there for my people in the streets?(Who's there? Who's
there?)

Who's there for my people who got nothing to eat?(Who's there?
Who's there?)

They break our family, neglect the elderly

Who's there to bring a cure? Where's the remedy?(Who's there?
Who's there?)


(Les Nubians signing)

Writer : ELAM, KEITH/FAUSSART, HELENE/FAUSSART, CELIA
Copyright : Lyrics © EMI Music Publishing