I live in Chicago on a cement street People can be friendly or downright mean Winos and call girls the poor and refugees It can get real interesting Drive ya to your knees Sometimes life ain?t easy It can be pretty hard with the people in my backyard In my backyard Old folks are lonely Some people got AIDS Some are just plain crazy an? others full of rage Young kid gang-bangin? from a single parent Gun in his pocket sellin? crack on his cell phone So many homeless ain?t got all their cards That?s the way it is in my backyard Oh, in my backyard Suburban commuters BMW or train They come to get the money a honey or cocaine Some cops are crooked Politicians on the take Slumlords cuttin? deals robbin? widows by the lake Orphans on the street family broken and charred That?s the way it is in my backyard In my backyard