The Black Street Gang

'The Black Street Gang' was written in 1972.

This version was recorded 20 years later.

"Well, I was walking along some long, hard road and the sun was beating down.

Hot and dry and felling rough, I arrived at this old ghost town.

I decided to stop and look around for any sign of life, 

But the place was oh-so-quiet, cut the silence with a knife. 

So I sat down to play some slow, sad song, 

Just like I sometimes do, when a thousand riders, just like that, 

Appeared from nowhere, dressed in black,

And they weren't just passin' through, Oo-ooh. 

 A voice came out of the darkness, and it chilled me to the bone, It said,

'Mister, you lookin' for trouble, you found yourself a home, 

'Cos the Black Street Gang like music, but we like it loud and long. 

You play it fast, mean and cool, and brother you won't go wrong! Oh-oh...

Faster, faster, faster, baby, play it faster still, 

Fast as fast can be till the Black Street Gang has had its fill! 

Faster, faster, faster, baby, faster for your life! 

Faster than you've ever played or you're gonna get yours with the... flick knife. Oh-oh. 

The Black Street Gang kept dancing from six 'o clock till late, 

I played so long and hard, my every muscle ached. 

And when my voice give out, I did not stop or pause for breath, 

I knew if I did I was half way to an early death. 

But when I sought to slow the tempo down and tiny bit. 

One thousand ghostly dancers screamed, 'Brother now don't you quit!' 

 We want it faster, faster, faster, baby, play it faster still, 

 Fast as fast can be till the Black Street Gang has had its fill! 

 Faster, faster, faster, baby, faster for your life! 

 Faster than you've ever played or you're gonna get yours with a flick knife 

The Black Street Gang, oh, Lord, they never ceased to reel and rock, 

Oh, gimme a break, for mercy's sake, oh, I just gotta stop. 

The Black Street Gang they devil dance right through till early morn! 

I knew I was almost all played out 'cos five of my strings had gone. 

The bass string was a slippin' and slidin', could not keep it still.

 When 'twang' my bottom E was bust, my blood began to chill... 

The Black Street Gang is after you and, man, we're closin' in! 

Gonna wrap you up in sympathy, inform your next of kin! 

Gonna get yer, get yer, get yer, get yer, gonna leave a yellow grin, 

Oh, baby, you're a born loser, and the Black Gang play to win! 

 Gonna get yer, get yer, get yer, get yer, with knife, chain and gun, 

Gonna get yer, get yer, get yer, baby, oh, brother you better run! 

Faster, faster, faster, never pause for rest, 

Been running from the Black Stet Gang from that day till this. 

Faster, faster, faster, they can't be far behind! 

They'll hunt you down until you drop, The Black Street Gang won't ever stop, 

They'll hunt you down until you drop, The Black Street Gang won't ever stop, 

They'll hunt you down until you drop, The Black Street Gang won't ever stop, 

Until you've lost your mind... 

 Until you've lost your mind.