Lyrics Poverty's Paradise - 24-Carat Black

Hey, it seems to me like ever since I was a little child
I've been starving
I've never known anything but hunger
(Poverty's paradise)
I've been hungry all my life
Yeah, starved to the bone
Somewhere on this raggedy earth
Somebody said something once
About some kind of paradise
Where everything would be nice
(Poverty's)
And together
(Paradise)
But I'll be damned if I can find it
I've grown up into adulthood now
And I don't seem to be able to find my way to anything
Much less somebody's paradise
(Poverty's paradise)
One thing for sure
I'd like to go to sleep just once on a full stomach
I get mighty tired of these belly wrinkles, dig?
And my babies
I don't know what I'm gonna do about them
I've run out of ways to keep them fed
Used to be I could find a way when there wasn't anyway
(Poverty's paradise)

Ever since my birth
I've had no one to care
Since my very first day on earth
I've existed on welfare
Shameful living's been my way

Nameless giving's been my pay

Poverty's paradise
If you want it, you better think twice

Poverty's paradise
Who ever said it was nice?

That human was a fool
A poor human's life is filled with woes
No amount of foodstamps can ease sorrow
This way of life demands no respect or dignity

It command only neglect and self pity
Down life's long and lonely road
Poor has been my one and only load

Poverty's paradise
If you want it, I say you better think twice
Poverty's paradise
Whoever said it was nice?

That human was a fool (fool)
My living's been in vain

My lowly life has known only pain
If you can avoid this kind of misery
Thank God you don't have to live like me
Down life's long and lonely road

Poor has been my one and only load

Poverty's paradise
If you want it, I say you better think twice
Poverty's paradise
Whoever said it was nice?

That human was a fool
(Poverty's paradise)
(Poverty's paradise)
I don't think I could find a way to make it on this earth
(Poverty's paradise)
It's been on continuous delay
Ever since my birth
(Poverty's paradise)
Hungry, Hungry, Hungry
Lonely, lonely, lonely
(Poverty's paradise)
My love's been adept
I've had to do without
(Poverty's paradise)
Only pain, only shame
(Poverty's paradise)
My baby's look at me and cry
All I could do is laugh
I tell 'em, son, one day we'll be rich
Daughter, oh, daughter
(Poverty's paradise)
Nobody to be fare
Nobody to be fare
(Poverty's paradise)
Life, liberty and the pursuit of hapiness, yes yes
(Poverty)
That's what they tell me
Liquidation and distress
That's what they sell me
Free speech, constitutional rights, ain't nowhere to be found
(Poverty's)
Only hunger and grind
(Poverty's)
Global fight after fight
(Poverty's)
Look around
(Paradise)
The president said, the president said, the president said
Don't worry, Don't worry, Don't worry, Don't worry
But worry's all I know
Hurt, Hurt Hurt, hurt hurt hurt
(Poverty)
Hurt
(Poverty)
Hurt
(Poverty)
Hurt
(Paradise)
Poverty's paradise
Whoever said it was nice?
That human was a fool
(Poverty's paradise)
(Poverty's paradise)