it was december the sixth 1983 i was doin time for armed robbery at four in the morning i was sitting in my cell i heard a whistle blow and i heard somebody yell there s a riot going on there s a riot going on there s a riot going on up in cell block number nine our warden said come out with your hands up in the air if you don t stop this riot you re all gonna get the chair and scarface jones said it s too late to quit pass the dynamite don t you give me any shit there s a riot going on there s a riot going on there s a riot going on up in cell block number nine on the 47th hour the nerve gas got our men we re all back in our cells but every now and then there s a riot going on there s a riot going on there s a riot going on up in cellblock number nine up in cellblock number nine up in cellblock number nine