Black man, born free
At least that's the way it's supposed to be
Chains that bind him are hard to see
Unless you take this walk with me

Place where he lives
Got plenty of names ...
The hood,the projects,the ghetto,
And they're 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 were hungry, what would you do?

Rent is two months past due
On a building that's falling apart
Little boy needs a pair of shoes
And this is only a part
Of life in ... Soulsville

Some of the brothers got plenty of cash
Users in the crackhouse gonna see to that
Some like to smoke and some like to blow
Some are even strung out on a $1000 Jones

They are trying to ditch reality
By getting so high
Only to find out
You can never never touch the sky
Cause your roots are in ... Soulsville

Every Sunday morning
You can hear the old sisters sing
"Hallelujah, Hallelujah, “
Trust in the Lord you make a way, oh yeah"

I hope that he hears their prayers
Because deep in their souls they believe
Someday he'll put an end to all the misery
That we have in ... Soulsville

Soulsville
Soulsville
Soulsville
Soulsville
Soulsville!
Soulsville...