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

And Scarface Jones said It's too late to quit

Pass the dynamite, don't you give me 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