I went to a party
At the local county jail
All the cons were dancing
And the band began to wail

But the guys were indiscreet
They were brawling in the street
At the local dance at
The local county jail

Well, the band were playing
And the booze began to flow
But the sound came over
On the police car radio

Down at Precinct 49
Having a tear gas of a time
Sergeant Baker got a call from
The governor of the county jail

Load up, load up
Load up with rubber bullets
Load up, load up
Load up with rubber bullets

I love to hear
Those convicts squeal
It's a shame these
Slugs ain't real
But we can't have dancing
At the local county jail

Sergeant Baker and his men
Made a beeline for the jail
And for miles around
You could hear the sirens wail

There's a rumor
Going round death row
That a fuse is gonna blow
At the local hop at
The local county jail

Whatcha gonna do about it
Whatcha gonna do
Whatcha gonna do about it
Whatcha gonna do

Sergeant Baker started talking
With a bullhorn in his hand
He was cool, he was clear
He was always in command

He said, blood will flow
Here Padre, Padre
You talk to your boys
Trust in me, God will
Come to set you free

Well, we don't understand
Why you called in
The National Guard
When Uncle Sam is the one
Who belongs in the exercise yard

We all got balls and brains
But some's got balls and chains
At the local dance at
The local county jail

Load up, load up
Load up with rubber bullets
Load up, load up
Load up with rubber bullets

Is it really such a crime
For a guy to spend his time
At the local dance at
The local county jail
At the local dance at
The local county jail

Whatcha gonna do about it
Whatcha gonna do
Whatcha gonna do about it
Whatcha gonna do