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