The Night Chicago Died

Daddy was a cop on the east side of Chicago
Back in the USA
back in the bad old days.

In the heat of a summer night
In the land of the dollar bill.
When the town of Chicago died
And they talk about it still
When a man named Al Capone
Tried to make that town his own.
And he called his gang to war
With the forces of the law.

I heard my Mama cry
I heard her pray the night Chicago died.
Brother
what a night it really was
Brother
what a fight it really was.
Glory be.
I heard my Mama cry
I heard her pray the night Chicago died.
Brother
what a night the people saw
Brother
what a fight the people saw.
Yes
indeed

And the sound of the battle rang
Trough the streets of the old east side.
Till the last of the hoodlum gang
Had surrendered up or died.
There was shouting in the street
And the sound of running feet.
And I asked someone who said:
'Bout a hundred cops are dead
.

I heard my Mama cry
. . .

Then there was no sound at all
But the clock upon the wall
Then the door burst open wide
And my Daddy stepped inside
And he kissed my Mama's face
And he brushed her tears away
The night Chicago died.

The night Chicago died

Brother what a night the people saw
Brother what a fight the people saw
Yes indeed.

The night Chicago died
The night Chicago died
Brother
what a night it really was
Brother
what a fight it really was
Glory be.