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The Night Chicago Died
Vocabulary from Paper Lace: 'The Night Chicago Died'.
Daddy was a cop
On the East Side of Chicago
Back in the USA
Back in the bad old days
In the heat of a summer night
In the land of the dollar bill
When the town of Chicago died
And they talk about it still
When a man named Al Capone
Tried to make that town his own
And he called his gang to war
Against the forces of the law
I heard my momma cry
I heard her pray the night Chicago died
Brother, what a night it really was
Brother, what a fight it really was
Glory be
I heard my momma cry
I heard her pray the night Chicago died
Brother, what a night the people saw
Brother, what a fight the people saw
Yes, indeed
And the sound of the battle rang
Through the streets of the old East Side
'Til the last of the hoodlum gang
Had surrendered up or died
There was shouting in the street
And the sound of running feet
And I asked someone who said
'Bout a hundred cops are dead
I heard my momma cry
I heard her pray the night Chicago died
Brother, what a night it really was
Brother, what a fight it really was
Glory be
I heard my momma cry
I heard her pray the night Chicago died
Brother, what a night the people saw
Brother, what a fight the people saw
Yes, indeed
Then there was no sound at all
But the clock up on the wall
Then the door burst open wide
And my daddy stepped inside
And he kissed my momma's face
Then brushed her tears away
The night Chicago died
The night Chicago died
Brother, what a night the people saw
Brother, what a fight the people saw
Yes, indeed
The night Chicago died
The night Chicago died
Brother, what a night it really was
Brother, what a fight it really was
Glory be
The night Chicago died
The night Chicago died
Brother, what a night the people saw
Brother, what a fight the people saw
Vocabulary
daddy
Nounˈdædi
child's word for father
My daddy is a firefighter.
An informal and often affectionate word for father, used primarily by or to children.
was
Verbwɒz
past tense of 'be' (first/third person singular)
She was happy to see him.
The past simple form of 'be' used with 'I', 'he', 'she', or 'it'.
a
Determinerə
a
Give me a pen.
An indefinite article used before a noun.
cop
Nounkɑp
a police officer
The cop told us to pull over.
An informal word for a police officer. It is very common in everyday speech but might be considered slightly less respectful than 'police officer' in formal contexts.
on
Prepositionɑn
positioned at the upper surface of
There is a cup on the table.
Indicates position above something else and touching it.
the
Determinerðə
the definite article
The sun is hot.
Used before a noun to refer to a specific thing already known or mentioned.
east side
Nounthe side or area toward the east
The bakery is on the east side of the station, next to the small park.
Use lowercase for a general direction or side. Capitalized East Side can also be a place name, such as a district in New York.
of
Prepositionəv
belonging to; relating to; made from
This is a map of the world.
A very common preposition used to show possession, belonging, or origin.
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