Daddy was a copOn the east side of ChicagoBack in the USABack in the bad old days
In the heat of a summer nightIn the land of the dollar billWhen the town of Chicago diedAnd they talk about it still
When a man named Al CaponeTried to make that town his ownAnd he called his gang to warWith the forces of the law
I heard my momma cryI heard her pray the night Chicago diedBrother, what a night it really wasBrother, what a fight it really wasGlory be
I heard my momma cryI heard her pray the night Chicago diedBrother, what a night the people sawBrother, what a fight the people sawYes, indeed
And the sound of the battle rangThrough the streets of the old east side'Til the last of the hoodlum gangHad surrendered up or died
There was shouting in the streetAnd the sound of running feetAnd I asked someone who said'Bout a hundred cops are dead
I heard my momma cryI heard her pray the night Chicago diedBrother, what a night it really wasBrother, what a fight it really wasGlory be
I heard my momma cryI heard her pray the night Chicago diedBrother, what a night the people sawBrother, what a fight the people sawYes, indeed
Then, there was no sound at allBut the clock up on the wallThen, the door burst open wideAnd my daddy stepped insideAnd he kissed my momma's faceAnd brushed her tears away
The night Chicago diedThe night Chicago diedBrother, what a night the people sawBrother, what a fight the people sawYes, indeed
The night Chicago diedThe night Chicago diedBrother, what a night it really wasBrother, what a fight it really wasGlory be
The night Chicago diedThe night Chicago diedBrother, what a night the people sawBrother, what a fight the people saw