On the night Miss Johnston died
Old Miss Johnston in the eye of the storm
It's not safe to go outside
It used to be Louis Armstrong
Sittin' in her yellow kitchen
You can't tell the truth from all the lies
Steerin' clear of all the thugs

In case danger comes around
The whinos weave and amble
Out the window where her garden was
It was the safest place to hide
Where did everybody go?
Everything changed forever and everything stayed the same

Then Martin Luther King

And life's a gamble for the broken and the weak
Broke down cars and burglar bars
And shuffle on down the street
And now my city hangs her head in shame
Dealin' with the bangers and the drugs
Listenin' to bad news on a Radiant radio
On the windows and doors