sun sinking deep fires burning down hard to see the moon when the smoke is all around i live in a big city and they tell me we are free i hear babies cryin there ll be killing in these streets how many heartaches how many years of pain just how many funerals before the streets be safe again i live in a big city and they tell me we are free i hear babies cryin there ll be killing in these streets evening sun going down police using his billy stick when the blood start to flowin and it ll be flowin till the mornin come again i live in a big city and they tell me that we are free now i hear these babies cryin do you know what that s doin to me lord it s tearin my heart apart