Cover art for Raise the Roof by Public Enemy

Raise the Roof

Produced by

Feb. 10, 19871 viewer

Raise the Roof Lyrics

[Intro: Chuck D]
Testing, one-two
Testing, one-two
The house is now on fire
Spread the walls y'all
Everybody get somebody we don't want anybody let fuck nobody
'Cause you know what time it is
It's time to get busy
And when it's time to get busy
You know what you gotta do
You gotta

[Verse 1]
Raise the roof because it's all on fire
Not done by the sun or electrical wire
Not done by sons striking matches with daughters
But done by scratches so save that water
This jam is packed so I just figure
All we need is the house to get bigger
So startin' with the roof down to the base
We're at your service to burn the place, come on!

[Hook: Flavor Flav]
"Come on"
Come on, raise the roof
That's right, raise the roof
"Come on"
[Verse 2]
With the spot as hot as it can get
And the roof's on fire, you're soakin' wet
The puzzle on your face shows as you sweat
But your body keeps movin' with no regret
Chandeliers shake, swing from front to back
Left to right all night, and the lights don't crack
Your mind's on the time, hopin' it don't end
'Cause it's time to get stupid, here we go again, come on

[Hook: Flavor Flav]
Come on"
Come on, raise the roof
"Come on"
That's right, raise the roof y'all
"Come on"

[Verse 3]
Stare at the strobe, pull your earlobe
For the sights and sounds clear across the globe
This jam might hit or miss the charts
But the style gets wild as state of the art
Dazzling in science, bold in nerve
But givin' my house what it deserves
Served on the floor 'cause I got paid
Make the fans that left, wished they had'a stayed
Realize my friend, ain't this a trip
As your body gets railed when you do the flip
And your mind gets rocked when we're on the roll
Then the freak of the week makes you lose control
A Swatch for a watch, so you'll know the time
Your crowd gets loud and you clock my rhyme
The messiah's on fire and I'm living proof
I'll quench your desire and raise your roof
[Hook: Flavor Flav]
Come on, raise the roof
"Come on"
Raise the roof, come on
"Come on" "Come on"
"Come on-come on-come on, c-come on, c-"
"C-c-c-c-c-c-c-c-come on"

[Verse 4]
In school I'm cool throughout the week
When the weekend comes, I'm down with the Greeks
Frat brothers known across the seven seas
Fly ladies of the 80's, sororities
The Zetas, Deltas, the AKA's
Women that keep me in a daze

The A Phi A, Sigma boys on the move
With the Kappas and the Q's, and of course the Grooves

And for real it's the deal and the actual fact
It takes a nation of millions to hold me back
Rejected and accepted as a communist
Claimin' fame to my name as a terrorist
Makin' money in corners that you'll never see
Dodgin' judges and the lawyers and the third degree
Nothin' wrong with a song to make the strong survive
Real eyes gave me five 'cause I kept 'em alive
Mislead what you read about my devilish deeds
Misled what I said so you're better off dead
Make 'em hear it and see it for the deaf and blind
And command it and we'll plan it for incapable minds
Take for granted and demand it from the wave of my hand
Make the jealous understand it and just say damn
When they see me, ask a question, "How the hell can it be?"
When they watch me pull a serpent straight from out of the sea
Turn the winter into summer, then from hot to cold
Expand my power on the hour, make you all behold
From the slammer swing a hammer like the mighty Thor
God of thunder, you'll go under, then you'll all applaud
And fathom that distance, the mad must reap
Meet Namor sea lord, Prince of the deep
Here for you to fear at any cost
Tellin' you to get busy or you better get lost
Livin' lives civilized from the lessons I taught
Cities buried underground just because I went off
My friends' enemies, better be my friend
Is question people guessin' is this the end?
End of the world, are you guessin' yes?
Just say don't delay it, get it off your chest
Houses of crack, I've seen too much
I go ready, aim, fire, then I'll blow 'em up

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