Lyrics:

Riot!
Handsworth riot!
Now people all over stand to attention
And listen to the vibes from Pato Banton
Cause under Handsworth riot me have to get a mention.

Chorus:
What was the riot for?
Please give me an answer!
What's the riot for?
Please give me an answer!

Now me know the situation in the Handsworth area
Everyday men get beat up by police officer.
Could be sitting in your yard with you daughter
Them will kick off your door and say: come on nigger!
Them raid De Villa Cross and arrest ... brethren
And stop we from use Oaklands Sport Center.
Down at Thornhill Road Station nuff man get tortured
Some can't take the pressure and turn informer
Certain names I could mention, but I won't bother
Cause I've got to carry on in this lecture.
When Mr. Douglas Hurd ask them, what's the matter?
Someone should a be there with the right answer
Instead them are uh uh uh like gorilla
And a fling rock stone like war monger.
In front of worldwide television camera
Some loot, some a shoot and commit murder.

Chorus:
What was the riot for?
Please give me an answer!
What's the riot for?
Please give me an answer

It was the first night when two men get murder
They was too decent law abiding cha-cha's
Upstairs in a post office it's where they sat a
When a gang of bad youths kick off the door and enter.
Now the only witness was one next door neighbor
And this is what he said in front of TV cameras
I was sitting in my house eating my dinner
Then I heard Mr. Sing shouting out for Allah.
Then he says, don't hurt us, we are all black brother!
And a voice said, shut up and pass the money over!
Well, when I hear this I run to call the cop a
But by the time I got back the place was on fire.
What was the riot for?
Please give me an answer!
What was the riot for?
Please give me an answer!

Chorus:
What was the riot for?
Please give me an answer!
What's the riot for?
Please give me an answer

On Tuesday the 10th of September
Handsworth riot take the front page of every paper.
I read the story and have to cry with laughter
To some reporter enter the Handsworth area.
Looking an inside story to give the editor
When they thought: we are in luck, they was in danger!
Certain bad boys don't like it when you take picture,
So they grab the news reporter by the collar.
Pin them up against the wall and do them over
Take one pin ... a Nikon camera
Take away them wallet, the watch and lighter
And tell them, don't come back in our area!
The policeman and fireman get injured
No few upon the front line get captured!
No indian man shop get set on fire!
And nearly every car get turned over!
Some people a walk home with tape recorder
Some have TV, some have video, some have amplifier
From the day that me born me never see worse a
Police are make deal with law breaker:
If you stop the riot then we'll get out the area!
I know this is the true and not a rumor
Cause I know that the police ...
Anyway, just before me leave the mike center.

Chorus:
What was the riot for?
Please give me an answer!
What's the riot for?
Please give me an answer

[Outro:]
Riot!
Handsworth riot!
Can't keep the riot
Rough!