On July the second, 1953 I was servin' time for armed robbery At four o'clock in the mornin', I was sleepin' in my cell I heard the whistle blow then I heard somebody yell (There's a riot goin' on) (There's a riot goin' on) (There's a riot goin' on) Up in cellblock number nine The trouble started down in cellblock number four And spread like fire across the prison floor I said: Okay boys, get ready to run Here come the warden with a tommy gun (There's a riot goin' on) (There's a riot goin' on) (There's a riot goin' on) Up in cellblock number nine The 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 'cause the fuse is lit (There's a riot goin' on) (There's a riot goin' on) (There's a riot goin' on) Up in cellblock number nine In the forty-seventh hour, the tear gas got our men We are all back in our cells, but every now and then (There's a riot goin' on) (There's a riot goin' on) (There's a riot goin' on) Up in cellblock number nine