Rubber Bullets
by 10cc

Album: 10cc (1973)
Charted: 1 73
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  • I went to a party at the local county jail
    All the cons were dancing and the band began to wail
    But the guys were indiscreet
    They were brawling in the street
    At the local dance at the local county jail

    Well the band were playing
    And the booze began to flow
    But the sound came over on the police car radio
    Down at Precinct 49
    Having a tear-gas of a time
    Sergeant Baker got a call from the governor of the county jail

    Load up, load up, load up with rubber bullets
    Load up, load up, load up with rubber bullets
    I love to hear those convicts squeal
    It's a shame these slugs ain't real
    But we can't have dancin' at the local county jail

    Sergeant Baker and his men made a bee-line for the jail
    And for miles around
    You could hear the sirens wail
    There's a rumor goin' 'round death row
    That a fuse is gonna blow
    At the local hop at the local county jail (whatcha gonna do about it, whatcha gonna do?)

    Whatcha gonna do about it, whatcha gonna do?

    Sergeant Baker started talkin' with a bullhorn in his hand (bullhorn in his hand, bullhorn in his hand)
    He was cool, he was clear, he was always in command (always in command, always in command)
    He said "Blood will flow, here Padre
    Padre you talk to your boys"
    "Trust in me
    God will come to set you free"

    Well we don't understand why you called in the National Guard (National Guard, the National Guard)
    When Uncle Sam is the one who belongs in the exercise yard (exercise yard, the exercise yard)
    We all got balls and brains
    But some's got balls and chains
    At the local dance at the local county jail

    Load up, load up, load up with rubber bullets
    Load up, load up, load up with rubber bullets
    Is it really such a crime
    For a guy to spend his time
    At the local dance at the local county jail
    At the local dance at the local county jail (whatcha gonna do about it, whatcha gonna do?)

    Whatcha gonna do about it, whatcha gonna do? Writer/s: GRAHAM GOULDMAN, KEVIN GODLEY, LOL CREME
    Publisher: MUSIC SALES CORPORATION, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group
    Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 7

  • Jim from U.s.The band could have done a little more research on Attica. There were no rubber bullets, they were all real, killing inmates and hostages, many of the shooters ere shouting racial slurs and "white power" after the massacre. Nixon and Rockefeller behind the scenes. disgusting. They definitely got this part right - Well we don't understand why you called in the National Guard
    (The National Guard, the National Guard)
    When Uncle Sam is the one who belongs in the exercise yard
    (The exercise yard, the exercise yard)
  • Colin from London, United KingdomIt's not Kevin Godley, but Lol Creme, who sings most of the lead vocal. Godley only sings the bridges "I love to hear those convicts squeal, it's a shame these slugs ain't real" and "Is it really such a crime for a guy to spend his time".
    When this was released, radio stations played a truncated edit of the song, with a short intro, and the final verse jumps from "When Uncle Sam is the one who belongs in the exercise yard" to "Is it really such a crime...". This short version can be found on YouTube clips of Top Of The Pops from 1973.
  • Jez from London, United KingdomGreat song - and a lyrical parody of 'Jailhouse Rock', which is apparent by the opening line.
  • Daevid from Glendale, CaJohn B.------the album "Sheet Music" is, in my opinion as good as 'Rubber Bullets' was a single!
    Great Band.
  • John from Brisbane, United StatesForget all about what 10cc did after this.This Rubber Bullets is the best thing they ever did.Only I do not know why the bigold USA did not recognize it,back in 1973.
  • John from Brisbane, United StatesI dig Rubber bullets,Helter skelter,Brother louie and At seventeen.They are some of the best ever!
  • John from Brisbane, United StatesRubber Bullets does enlighten children in a comedical way and it tells my kid not to be foolish.
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