"In the Ghetto" is a song made famous by Elvis Presley. It was featured in the Season Two episode, "Chickenpox". The song was used again "A Ladder to Heaven" during a flashback while Kenny's spirit was inside Eric Cartman.
Background
In an attempt to expose the boys to the chickenpox virus so they will become immune to it later in life, the parents of Stan Marsh, Kyle Broflovski, and Eric Cartman persuade them to stay the night at Kenny McCormick's house while he is ill. On the walk over, Cartman sings this song mocking Kenny's status for living in the poor side of town.
Lyrics
As the snow flies
On a cold and gray Chicago mornin'
A poor little baby child is born
In the ghetto
And his mama cries
Cause if there's one thing that she don't need
It's another hungry mouth to feed
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
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
Then one night in desperation
A 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
As her young man dies,
On a cold and gray Chicago mornin',
Another little baby child is born
In the ghetto
And his mama cries
"A Ladder to Heaven"
In the ghetto
He's the boy wearing orange whose losing his pride
'Cause Kenny and his whole family resides
In the ghetto