Pause for a minute and ask yourself why
[There's fire in the city]
The red glow of fire lights up the sky
[There's fire in the city]
And the sound of the siren screams through the [black]
[There's fire in the city]
And the streets re-echo with the rifle's crack
[There's fire in the city]

Oh what are the thoughts that go racing through your brain
And mess your mind up
At the sight of the city that’s gone completely insane
Where will it wind up

Come on with me let me take you down there
[There's fire in the city]
To the hate-haunted canyon of human despair
[There's fire in the city]
Over the dark invisible wall
[There's fire in the city]
Through the sickening stench of the tenament hall
[There's fire in the city]

Oh how can I tell in terms of black and white
Why there's fire in the city tonight
Oh what are the thoughts that go racing through your brain
And mess your mind up
At the sight of the city that's gone completely insane
Where will it wind up

I know by your face that you don’t know the sound
[There's fire in the city]
Of a club that's beaten a man to the ground
[There's fire in the city]
Where your home is your prison, your skin a disgrace
[There's fire in the city]
And the gates of your nation swing shut in your face
[There's fire in the city]

Oh how can I tell you in terms of black and white
Why there's fire in the city tonight

Oh what are the thoughts that go racing through your brain
And mess your mind up
At the sight of the city that's gone completely insane
Where will it wind up

Oh pause for a minute and ask yourself why
[There's fire in the city]
The red glow of fire lights up the sky
[There's fire in the city]
And at the sound of the siren you really know
[There's fire in the city]
That you truly do reap just what you sow
[There's fire in the city]
Oh how can I tell you in terms of black and white
Why there's fire in the city tonight
Oh how can I tell you in terms of black and white
Why there's fire in the city tonight
Oh how can I tell you in terms of black and white
Why there's fire in the city tonight