Well it's 1997, just about a quarter past eleven Nobody sits at home cause the rocks about to roll The Citgo sign with it's neon fire is fryin' all the suits While they're snortin' business up their nose, we're scuffin up our boots The downtown beat pours onto the street of the ground level Skeleton nation, but the high brow cannot hear it cause they ain't turned into the station All the common kids down on Comm. Ave have quite a lot to say But there ain't an ear to listen 'cause their turn is so far away
Another kid with a broken heart An old beat up six string guitar Last train stop better get off At the end of an era Ghetto blast goes 1-2-3-4 If you're sick of being poor And the rebel beat beats on At the end of an era
The elder ghosts are in the square As johnny fresh cut chops off his hair Butchy's black dreads flow all over town As black souls jive to the reggae sound When black and white dance together all night It ain't gonna make the papers When red blood fell from black and white lips They pinned it ghetto hatred
The Mission Hill kids have got a mission It's called stayin' alive Its the calm before the storm In an ethnic jail tonight All right ready to prowl? Hey I seen it man They come from every walk of life From every edge of town They got gasoline in their veins Best walk on the other side of the street man They got venom eyes The Mission Hill kids, the Savin Hill pack The Cambridge campers, the Sommerville house The Charlestown town boys, suburban youth They're idlin' high They're blendin' in with the bricks I know you seen us before I've seen you ignore us But we don't forget a face man And we don't soon forgive...