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Black day in July |
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Motor city madness has touched the countryside |
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And through the smoke and cinders |
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You can hear it far and wide |
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The doors are quickly bolted |
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And the children locked inside |
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Black day in July |
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Black day in July |
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And the soul of Motor City is bared across the land |
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As the book of law and order is taken in the hands |
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Of the sons of the fathers who were carried to this land |
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Black day in July |
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Black day in July |
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In the streets of Motor City is a deadly silent sound |
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And the body of a dead youth lies stretched upon the ground |
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Upon the filthy pavement |
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No reason can be found |
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Black day in July |
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Black day in July |
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Motor City madness has touched the countryside |
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And the people rise in anger |
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And the streets begin to fill |
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And there's gunfire from the rooftops |
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And the blood begins to spill |
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Black day in July |
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In the mansion of the governor |
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There's nothing that is known for sure |
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The telephone is ringing |
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And the pendulum is swinging |
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And they wonder how it happened |
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And they really know the reason |
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And it wasn't just the temperature |
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And it wasn't just the season |
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Black day in July |
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Black day in July |
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Motor City's burning and the flames are running wild |
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They reflect upon the waters of the river and the lake |
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And everyone is listening |
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And everyone's awake |
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Black day in July |
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Black day in July |
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The printing press is turning |
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And the news is quickly flashed |
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And you read your morning paper |
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And you sip your cup of tea |
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And you wonder just in passing |
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Is it him or is it me |
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Black day in July |
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In the office of the President |
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The deed is done the troops are sent |
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There's really not much choice you see |
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It looks to us like anarchy |
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And then the tanks go rolling in |
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To patch things up as best they can |
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There is no time to hesitate |
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The speech is made the dues can wait |
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Black day in July |
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Black day in July |
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The streets of Motor City now are quiet and serene |
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But the shapes of gutted buildings |
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Strike terror to the heart |
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And you say how did it happen |
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And you say how did it start |
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Why can't we all be brothers |
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Why can't we live in peace |
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But the hands of the have-nots |
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Keep falling out of reach |
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Black day in July |
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Black day in July |
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Motor city madness has touched the countryside |
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And through the smoke and cinders |
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You can hear it far and wide |
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The doors are quickly bolted |
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And the children locked inside |