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