[Verse 1: Jimmy Collier]
Middle of the summer, bitten by flies and fleas
Sittin' in a crowded apartment, about a hundred and ten degrees
I went outside, the middle of the night
All I had was a match in my hand, and I
I wanted to fight
So I said

[Chorus: Jimmy Collier & Frederick Douglass Kirkpatrick]
Burn baby burn
Burn baby burn
Nowhere to be, and lordy no one to see
And now nowhere to turn
Burn baby burn

[Verse 2: Jimmy Collier]
I called President Johnson on the phone
The secretary said he wasn't there
I tried to get in touch with Mr. Humphrey
They couldn't find him anywhere
I went into the courtroom, with my poor black face
Didn't have no money, didn't have no lawyer
They wouldn't plead my case
So I said

[Chorus: Jimmy Collier & Frederick Douglass Kirkpatrick]
Burn baby burn
Burn baby burn
Nowhere to be, and lordy no one to see
And now nowhere to turn
Burn baby burn
[Verse 3: Jimmy Collier]
I really wanted to be somebody
I really wanted some scratch
I really wanted to have a decent job now
But all I had was a match
I couldn't get oil from Rockefeller's well
I couldn't get diamonds from the mine
If I can't enjoy the American dream, won't be water but the fire next time
So I said

[Chorus: Jimmy Collier & Frederick Douglass Kirkpatrick]
Burn baby burn
Burn baby burn
Nowhere to be, and lordy no one to see
And now nowhere to turn
Burn baby burn

[Verse 4: Jimmy Collier]
Walkin' around in harlem now
Lookin' mean and bad
Deep down inside my heart
Feeling sorry and sad
Got a knife and a razor blade
Everybody that I know is tough
But when I tried to burn my way out of the ghetto
I'm burning my own self up
When I said
[Chorus: Jimmy Collier & Frederick Douglass Kirkpatrick]
Burn baby burn
Burn baby burn
Nowhere to be, and lordy no one to see
And now nowhere to turn
Burn baby burn

[Verse 5: Jimmy Collier]
I really want a decent education
I really want a decent job now
I really want a decent opportunity

[Outro: Jimmy Collier & Frederick Douglass Kirkpatrick]
I wanna grow like everybody else
I wanna grow like everybody else
I wanna grow like everybody else
I wanna grow like everybody else
I wanna grow like everybody else
I wanna grow like everybody else
I wanna