15 year old East Side boy had seen it in the papers
Now he wants to see it for himself
With his brothers and his curiosity he climbs the high school smokestack
13 miles away, the West Side is on fire

15 year old feet, dangle down the chimney
Nothing there to see just black, black, black
White hands grab the lightning rods, "Will it reach to the East Side?"
It's getting way too close, I can see it from here

Black smoke
Rising in the distance
Black smoke
Now it's violent resistance
Black smoke
And in this circumstance
Peaceful disobedience
Doesn't stand a chance

11 year old East Side boy marching with his mother singing,
"We Shall Overcome"
He saw it in the faces, he heard it in the song,

When it comes to injustice, 4 years is too long

Black smoke
Rising in the distance
Black smoke
Now it's violent resistance
Black smoke
And in this circumstance
Peaceful disobedience
Doesn't stand a chance

4 years is too long

Black smoke
Rising in the distance
Black smoke
Now it's violent resistance
Black smoke
And in this circumstance
Peaceful disobedience
Doesn't stand a chance

Black, black, black,
Black smoke
Rising in the distance
Black smoke
Now it's violent resistance
Black smoke
And in this circumstance
Peaceful disobedience
Doesn't stand a chance