GORDON LIGHTFOOT - Black Day In July lyrics

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