Fire in the City (From the Film Sons and Daughters) - Grateful Dead

And the sound of the siren screams through the

And the streets re-echo with the rifle’s crack

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

To the hate-haunted canyon of human despair

Over the dark invisible wall

Through the sickening stench of the tenament hall

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

Of a club that’s beaten a man to the ground

Where your home is your prison, your skin a disgrace

And the gates of your nation swing shut in your face

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

The red glow of fire lights up the sky

And at the sound of the siren you really know

That you truly do reap just what you sow

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