Motor City Is Burning MC5 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, [Incomprehensible] 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 --song lyrics by john lee hooker & rob tyner