Riot! Handswoth riot!
Now people all over stand to attention
And listen to the vibes of pato banton
Cause under handswoth riot me have to get a mention
What was the riot for? Please give me an answer
What was the riot for? Please give me an answer
What was the riot for? Please give me an answer
What was the riot for? Please give me an answer
Now me know the situation in the handsworth area
Everyday men get beat up by police officer
Could be sitting in you yard with you daughter
Them will kick off the door and say come on nigger!
Dem raid de villa cross and arrest nuff bredda
And stop we from use oaklands sport centre
Down at thornhill road station nuff man get torture
Some can’t tek de pressure an turn informer
Certain names i could mention but i won’t bother
Cause i’ve got to carry on in this lecture
When mr. Douglas hurd, ask them: what’s the matter?
Someone should be dere wid de right answer
Instead them a uh uh uh like gorilla
An-na fling rock stone like a war monger
In front of the worldwide television camera
Some loot some shoot and commit murder
What was the riot for? Please give me an answer
What was the riot for? Please give me an answer
What was the riot for? Please give me an answer
What was the riot for? Please give me an answer
It was the first night when 2 men get murder
Them was 2 descent law abiding cha cha’s
Upstairs inna post office is where dem satter
When a gang of bad youths kick down the door and enter
Now the only witness was one next door neighbour
And this is what he said in front of t.V. Cameras:
I was sitting in my house eating my dinner
Then i heard mr. Singh shouting out for allah
Then he said, “don’t hurt us, we are all black bredda”
And a voice said, “shut up and pass the money over”
Well! When i heard this i run to call a copper
But by the time i got back the place was on fire
What was the riot for? Please give me an answer
What was the riot for? Please give me an answer
What was the riot for? Please give me an answer
What was the riot for? Please give me an answer
On tuesday the 10th of september
Handsworth riot took the front page of every news paper
I red a story and had to cry wid laughter
To some reporter weh enter the handsworth area
Looking an inside story to give de editor
When they thought: we are in luck! They was in danger!
Certain bad boys don’t like it when you tek picture
So they grab de news reporter by de collar
Pin dem up against de wall and do dem over
Tek weh one ? Tax an one nikkan camera
Tek weh dem wallet, watch and lighter
And tell dem , don’t come back inna we area
Nuff policeman under fire nuff man injured
Nuff fool pon de front line get capture
Nuff indian man shop get set on fire
And nearly every car get turn over
Some people a walk home wid tape recorder
Somr have t.V. Some have video, some have amplifier
From de day dat me born me never see worser
Police a mek deal wid law breaker
If you stop the rioting we’ll get out the area!
I know this is the truth and not a rumour
Cause i know the police a one set of groviller
Anyway just before me leave de mike centre
What was the riot for? Please give me an answer
What was the riot for? Please give me an answer
What was the riot for? Please give me an answer