In the coldness of the city
Where the neon sleeps
And the streets show the pity
And the nights run deep
And every shadow seems to hold a hidden story
And every heart, oh, is a refugee

And the old ones hope
And the lost ones scream
The hustlers float
And the young ones dream
In the city
Livin' in the soul of the city

And the streets cry freedom
Do you stand or retreat?
As you stare by the neon gods above
While you bask in the heat

And the streets cry freedom
As the blood runs cold
As you stare into the eyes of the walking ghosts
Who've lost their souls

In the summer's heat I'm weary in the soul of the city
Potential's burning bright in the Harlem halls
Have you ever lived looking down a shotgun barrel
When they said, "Hey boy, this ain't your home"

There ain't no cure for the bleeding heart
'Cause when you fall there's no second start in the city
There'll always be the soul of the city

And the streets cry freedom
As it burns in the heat
You stare by the neon gods above
While you bask in the heat

And the streets cry freedom
As the blood runs cold
You stare into the eyes of the walking ghosts
Who've lost their souls

There is no reason for livin' in sin
I don't believe when they say, "Hey boy, you better give in"
You know I'll fight for what I know
'Til the day that I die
'Cause I'm better off dead
Then buried along with my pride

And the streets cry freedom
'Til the day that I die, yeah
'Til the day that I die
And the streets cry freedom
'Til the day that I die, yeah
'Til the day that I die, yeah
'Til the day that I die
'Til the day that I die, die, die, die, die, oh
Streets cry freedom

Potential's burning bright

Ohhh, oh

'Til the day that I die
'Til the day that I die
'Til the day that I die
'Til the day that I die