Gordon Lightfoot BLACK DAY IN JULY E5 D5 E5 D5 G5 E5 Black day in July, motor city madness has touched the countryside C5 E5 C5 E5 And through the smoke and cinders, you can hear it far and wide C5 E5 C5 E5 The doors are quickly bolted and the children locked inside D5 E5 Black day in July. E5 D5 E5 D5 G5 E5 Black day in July, and the soul of Motor City is bared across the land C5 E5 C5 E5 As the book of law and order is taken in the hands C5 E5 C5 E5 Of the sons of the fathers who were carried to this land D5 E5 Black day in July. E5 D5 E5 D5 G5 Black day in July, in the streets of Motor City there is a deadly silent E5 sound C5 E5 C5 E5 And the body of a dead youth, lies stretched upon the ground C5 E5 C5 E5 Upon the filthy pavement no reason can be found D5 E5 Black day in July. E5 D5 E5 D5 G5 E5 Black day in July, Motor City madness has touched the countryside C5 E5 C5 E5 And the people rise in anger and the streets begin to fill C5 E5 C5 E5 And there's gunfire from the rooftops and the blood begins to spill D5 E5 Black day in July. Interlude #1: E5 G5 In the mansion of the governor E5 G5 There's nothing that is known for sure E5 G5 The telephone is ringing E5 G5 And the pendulum is swinging E5 G5 And they wonder how it happened E5 G5 And they really know the reason E5 G5 And it wasn't just the temperature E5 G5 And it wasn't just the season D5 E5 Black day in July. E5 D5 E5 D5 G5 E5 Black day in July, Motor City's burning and the flames are running wild C5 E5 C5 E5 They reflect upon the waters of the river and the lake C5 E5 C5 E5 And everyone is listening and everyone's awake D5 E5 Black day in July. E5 D5 E5 D5 G5 Black day in July, the printing press is turning and the news is quickly E5 flashed C5 E5 C5 E5 And you read your morning paper and you sip your cup of tea C5 E5 C5 E5 And you wonder just in passing is it him or is it me D5 E5 Black day in July. Interlude #2: E5 G5 In the office of the President E5 G5 The deed is done the troops are sent E5 G5 There's really not much choice you see E5 G5 It looks to us like anarchy E5 G5 And then the tanks go rolling in E5 G5 To patch things up as best they can E5 G5 There is no time to hesitate E5 G5 The speech is made the dues can wait D5 E5 Black day in July. E5 D5 E5 D5 G5 E5 Black day in July, the streets of Motor City now are quiet and serene C5 E5 C5 E5 But the shapes of gutted buildings strike terror to the heart C5 E5 C5 E5 And you say how did it happen and you say how did it start C5 E5 C5 E5 Why can't we all be brothers, why can't we live in peace C5 E5 C5 E5 But the hands of the have-nots keep falling out of reach D5 E5 Black day in July. E5 D5 E5 D5 Black day in July, black day in July.