On July second, 1953
I was serving time for armed robbery
Bout four in the morning
I was sleepin' in my cell
I heard a whistle blow
I heard somebody yell
Thereâ²s a riot goin' on
There's a riot goinâ² on
Thereâ²s a riot goin' on
Up in cell block number nine
The trouble started in cell block number four
It spread like fire across the prison floor
I said "Come on boys, get ready to run -
Here comes the warden with a tommy gun"
Thereâ²s a riot goin' on
Thereâ²s a riot goin' on
Thereâ²s a riot goin' on
Up in cell block number nine
The warden said
"Come out with your hands up in the air
If you don't stop this riot (or: You gonna start a riot???)
Youâ²re all gonna get the chair"
Scarface Jones said, "Itâ²s too late to quit
And pass the dynamite, 'cause the fuse is lit"
Thereâ²s a riot goin' on
Thereâ²s a riot goin' on
Thereâ²s a riot goin' on
Up in cell block number nine
The ninety-second hour
The tear gas got our men
Crawled in our cells
But every now and then...
There's a riot goinâ² on
Thereâ²s a riot goin' on
Thereâ²s a riot goin' on
Up in cell block number nine
(Musixmatch status: error!)
