On the South side of Detroit city
I'm working all night on the line
Under black smoke stacks
Building Cadillacs, Jack
Not one of them will ever be mine

I'm gonna make it out of the city
Got an American dream that's true
Want a big red car and
A big white house and
A blue-eyed girl like you

You can spend all my money, honey
Na na na na, your man has come
It's alright

[Chorus:]
I'm living in the C-I-T-Y
Talking hard times in the city
Living in the C-I-T-Y
Life here ain't no dream
Living in the C-I-T-Y
Walking hard times in the city
Living in the C-I-T-Y
You know what I mean

Times are tough in the Motor City
Where the bright lights used to shine
Got two rooms looking
Down a one-way street
Staring out at a dead-end sign

Little girl, I'm gonna be somebody
If it's the last thing I ever do
Buy the prettiest things
Good money can bring
There ain't nothing I won't do for you

And you can spend
All my money, honey
Na na na na, your man has come
It's alright