Motor City is Burning

You know, the Motor City's burning, babe
There ain't a thing in the world they can do
You know, the Motor City's burning, people
There ain't a thing that white society can do
My hometown burning down to the ground
Oh, worser than Vietnam
But let me tell you how it started y'all
It started on 12th and Clairmount that morning
It made the, the beat cops all jump and shout
I said it, it started on 12th and Clairmount that morning
It made the, the pigs in the street all freak out
The fire wagons kept coming, baby
But the Black Panther snipers wouldn't let them put it out
Wouldn't let them put it out
Wouldn't let them put it out
Well, there was fire bombs bursting all around me, people
You know, there was soldiers standing everywhere
I said, there was fire bombs bursting all around me, baby
You know, there was National Guard everywhere
I can hear my people screaming
Sirens fill the air
Fill the air, fill the air
Fill the air, baby yeah
Your mama and papa don't know what the trouble is
You see, they don't know what it's all about
I said, your mama and papa don't know what the trouble is, baby
They just can't see what it's all about
They get the news from reading the newspapers, baby
You just get out there in the street and check it out
I said, the Motor City's burning, people
I ain't hanging 'round to find it out
I said, the Motor City's burning, people
You're just not hanging 'round to find it out
Well, I'm taking my wife and my people
And they're on TV
Yeah, yeah, but just before I go, baby, [...]
Fireman's on the street, people all around
No, I guess it's true
I'd just like to strike the match for freedom myself, yeah
I may be a white boy, but I can be bad too, yeah
Yes, it's true now
Yes, it's true now
Yes!
Let it all burn, let it all burn, let it all burn!