Motor City Is Burning - MC5

Ya know, the Motor City is burning babe

There ain’t a thing in the world that 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 and Clairmount that morning

It made the beat cops all jump and shout

Ah said, it started on 12th and Clairmount that morning

It made the pigs in the street 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, people

Ya know there were soldiers standing everywhere

I said there was fire bombs bursting all around me, baby

Ya know there was National Guard everywhere

Ah 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

Ah 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?

You just get out there in the street and check it out!

Ah said, the Motor City is burning, people

I ain’t hanging round to fight it out

Ah 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

Let it all burn!

Let it all burn!

Yeah, yeah, yeah

Yes

Come on baby!

Come on baby!