This song is very true to life, not just in Chicago, where the song takes place. And it was recorded by a guy born in Tupelo, Mississippi who went on the become "The King of Rock and Roll".
1969 Elvis Presley "As the snow flies
On a cold and gray Chicago mornin'
A poor little baby child is born
In the ghetto
(In the ghetto)
And his mama cries
'Cause if there's one thing that she don't need
It is another hungry mouth to feed
In the ghetto
(In the ghetto)
People, don't you understand
The child needs a helping hand
Or he'll grow to be an angry young man some day
Take a look at you and me
Are we too blind to see?
Do we simply turn our heads
And look the other way
Well, the world turns
And a hungry little boy with a runny nose
Plays in the street as the cold wind blows
In the ghetto
(In the ghetto)
And his hunger burns
So he starts to roam the streets at night
And he learns how to steal
And he learns how to fight
In the ghetto
(In the ghetto)
Then one night in desperation
The young man breaks away
He buys a gun, steals a car
Tries to run, but he don't get far
And his mama cries
As a crowd gathers 'round an angry young man
Face down on the street with a gun in his hand
In the ghetto
(In the ghetto)
And as her young man dies
(In the ghetto)
On a cold and gray Chicago mornin'
Another little baby child is born
In the ghetto
(In the ghetto)
And his mama cries
(In the ghetto)
(In the ghetto)
(Ah)"

@DennisinPeoria : Mac Davis wrote "in the Ghetto". I present Mark Knopfler's tribute to Elvis.
[Verse 1]
Around the time of Clambake
Movie number twenty-five
You and the lying Dutchman
Are still in overdrive
You're strong as when you started
Mississippi in your soul
You can still be Marlon Brando
And the King of Rock 'n' Roll

 

[Verse 2]
It isn't just the records
No, you must have Hollywood
The songs alone are not enough
That much is understood
You'll soon be back in Memphis
Maybe then you'll know what to do
The storylines they've given you
Are just not ringing true

 

[Chorus]
Oh, it's a ways to go
Back to Tupelo
It's a ways to go
Back to Tupelo

 

[Verse 3]
When you're young and beautiful
Your dreams are all ideal
Later on it's not the same
Lord, everythin' is real
Sixteen hundred miles of highway
Roll back to the truth
And a song to give your mother
In your first recordin' booth

 

[Verse 4]
Now, around the time of Clambake
That old dream's still rollin' on
Sometimes there'll be the feelin'
Things are going wrong
Mornin' star is fadin'
Lord, Mississippi's cold
You can still be Marlon Brando
And the King of Rock 'n' Roll

 

[Chorus]
Oh, it's a ways to go
Back to Tupelo
It's a ways to go
Back to Tupelo
Video Title: Mark Knopfler - Back To Tupelo (The Studio Albums 1996-2007)

[Verse 1]
Generals gathered in their masses
Just like witches at black masses
Evil minds that plot destruction
Sorcerers of death's construction
In the fields, the bodies burning
As the war machine keeps turning
Death and hatred to mankind
Poisoning their brainwashed minds
Oh, Lord, yeah![Verse 2]
Politicians hide themselves away
They only started the war
Why should they go out to fight?
They leave that all to the poor, yeah!
Time will tell on their power minds
Making war just for fun
Treating people just like pawns in chess
Wait till their judgment day comes, yeah![Verse 3]
Now, in darkness, world stops turning
Ashes where their bodies burning
No more war pigs have the power
Hand of God has struck the hour
Day of Judgment, God is calling
On their knees, the war pigs crawling
Begging mercies for their sins
Satan, laughing, spreads his wings
Oh, Lord, yeah!

Another rock song from around 1978. Wonder if it's semi-autobiographical?
Joe Walsh of The Eagles wrote and performed this. Love the instrumental bridge of Life's Been Good.I have a mansion, forget the price
Ain't never been there, they tell me it's nice
I live in hotels, tear out the walls
I have accountants pay for it all
They say I'm crazy but I have a good time
I'm just looking for clues at the scene of the crime
Life's been good to me so far
My Maserati does one-eighty-five
I lost my license, now I don't drive
I have a limo, ride in the back
I lock the doors in case I'm attacked
I'm makin' records, my fans they can't wait
They write me letters, tell me I'm great
So I got me an office, gold records on the wall
Just leave a message, maybe I'll call
Lucky I'm sane after all I've been through
(Everybody say, "I'm cool, " "He's cool")
I can't complain but sometimes I still do
Life's been good to me so far
I go to parties sometimes until four
It's hard to leave when you can't find the door
It's tough to handle this fortune and fame
Everybody's so different, I haven't changed
They say I'm lazy but it takes all my time
(Everybody say, "Oh yeah, " "Oh yeah")
I keep on goin' guess I'll never know why
Life's been good to me so far

"knights in white satin - never reaching the end- letters I've written - never meaning to send"

I close my eyes
Only for a moment, and the moment's gone
All my dreams
Pass before my eyes, a curiosityDust in the wind
All they are is dust in the windSame old song
Just a drop of water in an endless sea
All we do
Crumbles to the ground, though we refuse to seeDust in the wind
All we are is dust in the windNow don't hang on
Nothing lasts forever but the earth and sky
It slips away
And all your money won't another minute buyDust in the wind
All we are is dust in the wind
(All we are is dust in the wind)
Dust in the wind
(Everything is dust in the wind)
Everything is dust in the wind
(In the wind)

Lyrics in video. Thought this was needed.
Video Title: Genesis - Land Of Confusion (Official Lyrics Video)

@SuzyH :


Video Title: What "Nights in White Satin" by The Moody Blues is Really About

Harry Chapin had a way of telling stories through his music. This one involved a relationship between a father and his son. From 1974:My child arrived just the other day
He came to the world in the usual way
But there were planes to catch and bills to pay
He learned to walk while I was away
And he was talking 'fore I knew it and as he grew
He'd say, "I'm gonna be like you, dad
You know, I'm gonna be like you"
And the cat's in the cradle and the silver spoon
Little boy blue and the man in the moon
"When you coming home, dad?" "I don't know when
We'll get together then, you know we'll have a good time then"
My son turned ten just the other day
He said, "Thanks for the ball, dad, come on, let's play
Can you teach me to throw?" I said, "Not today
I got a lot to do" he said, "That's okay"
And he walked away but his smile never dimmed
Said, "I'm gonna be like him, yeah
You know, I'm gonna be like him"
And the cat's in the cradle and the silver spoon
Little boy blue and the man in the moon
"When you coming home, dad?" "I don't know when
We'll get together then, you know we'll have a good time then"
Well, he came from college just the other day
So much like a man I just had to say
"Son, I'm proud of you, can you sit for a while?"
He shook his head and he said with a smile
"What I'd really like, dad, is to borrow the car keys
See you later, can I have them please?"
And the cat's in the cradle and the silver spoon
Little boy blue and the man in the moon
"When you coming home, son?" "I don't know when
But we'll get together then, dad, you know we'll have a good time then"
I've long since retired and my sons moved away
I called him up just the other day
I said, "I'd like to see you if you don't mind"
He said, "I'd love to, dad, if I could find the time"
"You see, my new job's a hassle and the kids got the flu
But it's sure nice talking to you, dad
It's been sure nice talking to you"
And as I hung up the phone, it occurred to me
He'd grown up just like me
My boy was just like me
And the cat's in the cradle and the silver spoon
Little boy blue and the man in the moon
"When you coming home, son?" "I don't know when
But we'll get together then, dad, we're gonna have a good time then"

City girls just seem to find out early
How to open doors with just a smile
A rich old man, and she won't have to worry
She'll dress up all in lace, go in style
Late at night, a big old house gets lonely
I guess every form of refuge has its price
And it breaks her heart to think her love is only
Given to a man with hands as cold as ice
So she tells him she must go out for the evening
To comfort an old friend who's feelin' down
But he knows where she's goin' as she's leavin'
She is headed for the cheatin' side of town
You can't hide your lyin' eyes
And your smile is a thin disguise
I thought by now you'd realize
There ain't no way to hide your lyin' eyes
On the other side of town, a boy is waiting
With fiery eyes and dreams no one could steal
She drives on through the night, anticipating
'Cause he makes her feel the way she used to feel
She rushes to his arms, they fall together
She whispers, "It's only for a while"
She swears that soon she'll be comin' back forever
She goes away and leaves him with a smile
You can't hide your lyin' eyes
And your smile is a thin disguise
I thought by now you'd realize
There ain't no way to hide your lyin' eyes
She gets up and pours herself a strong one
And stares out at the stars up in the sky
Another night, it's gonna be a long one
She draws the shade and hangs her head to cry
She wonders how it ever got this crazy
She thinks about a boy she knew in school
Did she get tired, or did she just get lazy?
She's so far gone, she feels just like a fool
My, oh my, you sure know how to arrange things
You set it up so well, so carefully
Ain't it funny how your new life didn't change things?
You're still the same old girl you used to be
You can't hide your lyin' eyes
And your smile is a thin disguise
I thought by now you'd realize
There ain't no way to hide your lyin' eyes
There ain't no way to hide your lyin' eyes
Honey, you can't hide your lyin' eyes
Source: Musixmatch

@Skimo :
I thought about posting that song, you beat me to the punch, lol. Good song too.

They sang about it seeing we live in it.

@DennisinPeoria :
My personal fav
Chapin at his best

"i can see paradise by the dashboard light"