The summer is hot, the nights are still cold
Here in Philadelphia, in the city of soul
And we can let our hair down when it gets hot above
'Cause nothin' ever happens in the city of love

But someone should tell 'em there's a fire in the sky-y (hey-hey)
And someone should tell 'em
This is still nineteen eighty-five, (nineteen eighty-fi-ive)
Here in the city of love (it's so hot)

Sixty-second street and it looks like Beiruit
Like, like something you would see on the picture tube
You-ou-ou can watch it happen right in the cool of your front room
'Cause nothin' ever happens in the city of doom

Listen, let me tell ya, that the fire's real in the sky (hey-hey)
And someone should understand
This is still nineteen eighty-five, (nineteen eighty-fi-ive), ooh-ooh
Here in the city of love (the city of love, ooh-ooh)

Sometimes you can't open your door
Sometimes you just can't make a mo-ove
The city is black but the fire is red
I've sti-ill got the sound of marching feet in my head
Some love it, most don't give a da-amn
But I've got the fire in my heart, sweatin' it out

Children burn even when the nights are cold
Here in Philadelphia, the city of soul
We all let our hair down when it gets hot above
'Cause, nothin' ever happens in the city of love
But mister let me tell ya, that a lot of people die
You can't understand
This is still nineteen eighty-five, (nineteen eighty-fi-ive)

Sometimes you can't ignore
Sometimes you just can't make a mo-ove
The city is black but the fire is re-ed
I've sti-ill got the sound of marching feet in my head
But some love it, most don't give a da-amn
I've got the fire in my heart, swe