can you hear the sound of footsteps gather round loud and clear been going round here for years from land to the sea from shackle to city streets they struggle and strike troubling through day and night two colors of skin who stand here to all join in among the crowd say all loud the time is now for the rising of the ghetto for the rising of the ghetto there s no turning around we will never be put down alive and well we have not the time to fear it s here and it s real for all who can see and feel to speak up for truth to speak up for me and you time and again it ways for us to join in among the crowd say out loud the time is now for the rising of the ghetto for the rising of the ghetto well it s been a long time here on the wrong side running from flashlights in alleys on dark nights watching the home team and keep us at arm s reach in case there s a war to feed in and it s been the same around here for years and everybody s tired of the fellows who try to make it hard to live around here get ready for the rising of the ghetto whoa