Roots Archives Forum

I had this track on an old tape for 25 years now and I never managed to place it. It may be easy but I can't figure it out.
I'm not dying to know; in a way the search is more fun than the answer; still I am curious, and in the end I don't have a clue.
I don't recognize the voice and the rhythm is not common: it's a bit uptempo, with horns and organ in evidence. It's definitely a 7" because its dub follows and I cane hear the noise of the pick-up going down; I think it was recorded before 1980.
Here come the (almost) full lyrics.


I walk through the ghetto of the city
Hungry (...) and needy
I walk through the ghetto of the city
Needed somebody's (...)
In the heart of the city they destroy humanity
In the heart of the city we face brutality

I've seen brother killin' a brother
Just to achieve a dollar
Sister fightin' her sister
They don't understand each other
They don't give
Don't give
Don't have no mercy

Nobody knows the sorrow
Nobody knows my (...)
Nobody knows the pain I bear
Nobody cares about tomorrow
In the heart of the city they destroy humanity
In the heart of the city we face brutality
They don't give
Don't give
Don't (...) no mercy

Nobody cares

No one will give a helping hand
Nobody cares a damn
Nobody seems to understand
Help this struggling man
In the heart of the city
etc.

Enjoy, mates.

P.S.

It is not Ghetto of the City by Misty in Roots and it is not Ain't No Love in the Heart of the City by Al Brown.

Well, looks like this one's too much for everybody...

I see you've been much inspired by my-me-to me talking on the black star liner topic... But where I was trying to inspire pity you're trying the provoking way. I hope it will be more successful

Come on.
I am not provoking anybody...got no answer, just thought perhaps it is really difficult to find out...the only real hint I managed to give are the lyrics: therefore, it takes that somebody else has the same record, otherwise...

Could it be "Hard time in the City" by Valentine Brodie? On Third World Label?

Just been told it's not.
Well well...bloody hell!

HI BIG RESPECT
IF YU SEND A COPY OR MP3 OF DAT SONG TO MAKE A DOWNLOAD MAYBE SOME OF US WHO LOVE ROOTS CAN FIGURE IT.
SPREAD OUT ROOTS
DREADRECORDS@YAHOO.COM

SOLRAC

A friend of mine did this for me:

http://tinyurl.com/55vjb

I will send the whole tune by mail ASAP.
Thank you for taking the trouble.
Everybody's welcome if they want to have a go at it.