I take a steam train to work
Just like the one my father took
And I pass over the walls
I see the people as I look

I see--there's the block
For folks with yellow skin
There's the block for folks who have no chin
There's the block for me and all my kin
But over there is the change cage and we throw the rebels in

I work the change cage
Here on our side of the wall
And I will hold the key until the day they say the cage will fall
Here on our side of the wall
And I will hold the key until the day they say the cage will fall

Walls of iron bolted with steel
Two miles high, that should hide how we feel
And in the city we've walled off each block
This should work to segregate any racial melting pot

Long ago we learned of the trouble
When a man steps out of his life's plastic bubble
So we walled off the city, caged thoughts that were free
And now our lives are safe from any change
That could have come between you and me

I work the change cage
Here on our side of the wall
And I will hold the key until the day they say the cage will fall
I work the change cage
Here on our side of the wall
And I will hold the key until the day they say the cage will fall
And I will hold the key until the day they say the cage will fall

I work the change cage
Here on our side of the wall
And I will hold the key until the day they say the cage will fall
I work the change cage
Here on our side of the wall
And I will hold the key until the day they say the cage will fall

They say an artist from block 616
Revived some old art just for his own kicks
They say his pictures were lewd
They say his women were n***
So we throw them inside

Well, now, that artist can run, he can hide
But sooner or later we'll throw him inside
I don't think the people should see
Well, that's not art to me
So we'll throw them inside

I work the change cage
Here on our side of the wall
And I will hold the key until the day they say the cage will fall
Here on our side of the wall
And I will hold the key until the day they say the cage will fall

And I will hold the key
And I will hold the key
And I will hold the key until the day they say the cage will fall

And I will hold the key
And I will hold the key
And I will hold the key until the day they say the cage will fall

And I will hold the key
And I will hold the key
And I will hold the key until the day they say the cage will fall!