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 & Clairmount that morning.
It made the pig cops all jump & shout,
Ah said, it started on 12th & 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.
Read 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 ???
Well, just before I go, baby, ???? ,
firemans 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.
Guitars, end

"Let it all burn! Let it all burn!"
Motor City is burning