momma's in the kitchen with mister joe
                               and daddy must be halfway to st. paul by now
                               and the people next door won't let'cha get no sleep
                               seems like they've been fighting there all week

                               and it gets so hot down here in east l.a.
                               and the streets are gonna run like a river today
                               and the welfare man, yeah he's waiting at the door
                               wants to have a word with mamma
                               and he wants a little bit more

                               and no one's tryin' anymore
                               ya just get promises
                               and you've heard all the promises before

                               oh, this is some tough city
                               yeah, this is one hard town
                               wo-ho, this is some tough city.
                               they build you up and then
                               they tear you down

                               oh, this is one tough city
                               wo-ho, this is one tough city.
                               this is one hard town
                               hard town baby, yeah, yeah, yeah

                               there's man on the radio
                               and he's readin the news
                               says things are tough all over like 1932
                               ain't no hope when it gets this slow
                               seems like everybody gave up years ago

                               and no one's tryin' anymore, anymore
                               ya just get promises
                               and you've heard all the promises before,
                               yes you have now

                               oh, this is some tough city
                               yeah, this is one hard town
                               wo-ho, this is some tough city.
                               they build you up and then they
                               tear you down, tear you down

                               yes they tear you down, tear you down
                               this is one hard town
                               hard town baby, yeah, yeah

                               there's a line outside the mission
                               gonna get you whatcha want
                               and the salvation army's got the sisters out in front
                               and the unemployment office it stays open all night long
                               And the President keeps sayin', yeah, we'll make this country
                               strong
                               oh, this is some tough city
                               yeah, this is one hard town
                               wo-ho, this is some tough city
                               they build you up and then they tear you down
                               oh, this is some tough city
                               yeah, this is one hard town
                               wo-ho, this is some tough city.
                               they build you up and then they tear you down
                               oh, this is some tough city
                               this is one hard town
                               (this is some tough city)
                               yes, they'll tear you down
                               oh, this is some tough city
                               this is one hard townoh, this is some tough city
                               they build you up....