It was December the sixth 1983.
I was doin' time for armed robbery.
At four in the morning, I was sitting in my cell.
I heard a whistle blow, and I heard somebody yell.

There's a riot going on.
There's a riot going on.
There's a riot going on
Up in cell block number nine.

Our warden said "Come out with your hands up in the air.
If you don't stop this riot you're all gonna get the chair."
Scarface Jones said "It's too late to quit.
Pass the dynamite, don't you gimme any shit."

There's a riot going on.
There's a riot going on.
There's a riot going on
Up in cell block number nine.

On the 47th hour the nerve gas got our men.
We're all back in our cells but every now and then

There's a riot going on.
There's a riot going on.
There's a riot going on
Up in cellblock number nine.
Up in cellblock number nine.
Up in cellblock number nine!

Everybody get ripped! We'll be back!