On July the second, 1953 
I was serving time in Tahatchopee 
Four o'clock in the morning 
I was sleepin' in my cell 
I heard a whistle blow 
And I heard somebody yell 

There's a riot goin' on 
There's a riot goin' on 
There's a riot goin' on 
Up in cell block number nine 

The trouble all started up in cell block #4 
It spread like fire across the prison floor 
Warden came in with a big tommy gun 
Bang-bang-bang, tryin' to stop our fun 

The warden said, come out 
With your hands up in the air 
If you don't stop this riot 
You're all gonna get the chair 
Two-gun Mathilda said 
It's too late to quit 
Pass the dynamite Molly 
'Cause man, this fuse is lit 

They called the state militia 
To help them win the fight 
Drove up to the prison 
In the middle of the night 
Each and every trooper 
He looked so tall and fine 
All the chicks went crazy 
Up in cell block number nine