On the African plains A young mother weeps for her hungry child She prays he'll survive With tear-filled eyes She looks up to heaven And calls your name She pours out her pain You know her name And you hear her cries Chorus Friend of the poor Help me through the night Help me in the fight Come to my rescue Friend of the poor Take this skin and bones Make this heart a home Come to my rescue Friend of the poor On the streets of L.A. An old man lies in his cardboard home He feels so alone With tear-stained eyes He looks up to heaven and prays a prayer: "Is there anyone there?" You know his name And you hear his cries Repeat Chorus It's getting dark It's getting late It's cold outside the rich man's gate And I'm wondering Do you have any friends around here? Repeat Chorus Friend of the poor Help me through the night Help me in the fight Repeat Chorus Friend of the poor