It’s the hottest summer anyone can remember
Everybody knows something’s gonna start
This fella sings with a hundred and one reasons
For you to give him the keys, the keys to your heart
Guitars crash land in flames from hell
With bullets for rich or poor
A voice rings out like a bell
Cutting trough the chaos of hate and war

Back to basics, guitar picks, drumsticks – spirit of ‘76
Sceptics, slapsticks, limericks and plastics – spirit of ‘76
Convicts, ethnics, mavericks and beatniks – spirit of ‘76
Psychics, mystics, politics and con tricks – spirit of ‘76

While Mister Nasty makes enemies of new statesmen
And others jam with soul but nothing new
And Yankee cars play the same old, on the stereo
He walks up to the mike and he shows us what to do
Music like this can kick down doors
Dressed in rags with style
They don’t believe the truth no more
A white riot leaves them bleeding in the aisles

Back to Basics, guitar picks, drumsticks – spirit of ‘76
Sceptics, slapsticks, limericks and plastics – spirit of ‘76
Convicts, ethnics, mavericks and beatniks – spirit of ‘76
Psychics, mystics, politics and con tricks – spirit of ‘76
And nothing’s gonna be the same again
Said nothing’s gonna be the same again

Music like this can kick down doors
Dressed in rags with style
They don’t believe the truth no more
A white riot leaves them bleeding in the aisles