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 [Guitar solo] 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 [Guitar solo] 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! [Guitar solo] 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 [Guitar ending] Let it all burn! Let it all burn! Yeah, yeah, yeah Yes Come on baby! Come on baby!