Mama, tell your children not to go
Down to the city where the desperate people go
And mama, don't you let them stray
They won't find piece of mind in such a lonely place

Wannabes and losers, all trying to get a break
They don't give a damn, they'll do whatever it takes
If they climb the ladder they get to play for higher stakes
That's why there's low life in high places

Mama things have changed since you were young
When you scream in the dead of night, now no one ever comes
And the poor man, he's cast as the villain and the thief
See him down on the street begging for enough to eat

Waiting on the corner, I saw her waiting for the man
When the limo pulled up, I saw what was changing hands
I should've tried to warn her and make her understand
There is low life in high places

There is low life like you never even knew
There is low life and it lives in me and you
But we don't all let it through

Don't you let 'em go, you've got to have some pity
Don't you let 'em go
You've got to keep 'em away from the big bad city

Waiting on the corner, I saw her waiting for the man
When the limo pulled up I saw what was changing hands
I should've tried to warn her and make her understand

Mama, tell your children not to go
Down to the city where the desperate people go
And mama, don't you let them stray
They won't find piece of mind in such a lonely place