Ya know the Motor City is burning
babe
There ain't a thing in the world
they can do
Ya know the Motor City is burning
people
There ain't a thing that
white society can do
Ma home town burning
down to the ground
Worser than Vietnam
Let me tell you
how it started now
It started on 12th Clair
Mount that morning
It made the
the pig cops
all jump and shout
I said it started on 12th
Clair Mount that morning
It made the
the pigs in the street
go freak out
The fire wagons kept comin'
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
Get it on
Well there were fire bombs
bursting all around the people
Ya know there was soldiers
standing everywhere
I said there was fire bombs
bursting all around me baby
Ya know there was National
Guard everywhere
I can hear my people
screaming
Sirens fill the air fill the air
fill the air
Your mama
papa don't know
what the trouble is
You see
they don't know
what it's all about
I said your mama
papa don't know
what the trouble is baby
They just can't see
what it's all about
I get the news
read the newspapers
baby baby
You just get out there
in the street and check it out
I said the Motor City is burning
people
I ain't hanging
'round to fight it out
I said the Motor City is burning
people
Just not hang
around to fight it out
Well I'm taking
my wife and my people
and they're on TV
Well just before I go baby
Fireman's on the street
people all around
Now I guess it's true
I'd just like to strike a match
for freedom myself
I may be a white boy
but I can be bad too
Yes it's true now
yes it's true now
Yes
Let it all burn let it all burn
let it all burn