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
Through the streets of the old East Side

Til 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

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

Then there was 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