The boys and Dukes are ready to rumble
The word on the street some heads are gonna tumble
Blades gonna flash when the street gangs clash
In this avenue tonight
When the lightning strikes
Zip gun Johnny’s finger is itching
Oh the lid’s gonna blow up in hell’s kitchen
It’s an eye for an eye
And a tooth for a tooth
They’re so ruthless when they fight
When the lightning strikes, ooh
And it’s a free for all in the parking lot
Tell me who will rule the street
And the night explodes
When the cops bring down the heat
And the chains they crash like thunder
While the weak ones all retreat
Gotta draw first blood
Or they’ll read your funeral rights
When the lightning strikes
Um, it’s dog eat dog when you’re meeting your rival
In the combat zone it’s a means of survival
Gonna get last licks on a suicide blitz
On a cloak and dagger night
When the lightning strikes
Ooh, it’s a free for all in the parking lot
Over who’ll rule the street
And the night explodes
When the cops bring down the heat
And the chains they crash like thunder
While the weak ones all retreat
Gotta draw first blood
Or they’ll read your funeral rights
When the lightning strikes
When the lightning strikes
When the lightning strikes
Can’t you hear the thunder
When the lightning strikes
Can’t you hear the thunder
When the lightning strikes
Can’t you, can’t you, can’t you hear the thunder
When the lightning strikes
Can’t you, can’t you, can’t you hear the thunder
When the lightning strikes
Can’t you, can’t you, can’t you hear the thunder
When the lightning strikes
Can’t you, can’t you, can’t you hear the thunder
When the lightning strikes
Dramatic Streets: The Tension of “Lightning Strikes”
“Lightning Strikes” by Aerosmith captures the raw energy and peril of urban street battles. The lyrics paint a vivid scene of rival gangs clashing under the threat of violence, where every moment crackles with tension. The repeated references to thunder and lightning evoke both the unpredictability and the explosive nature of these confrontations. Steven Tyler’s delivery intensifies the sense of danger, while the narrative explores the primal instincts of survival and dominance. The song’s imagery of crashing chains, retreating weaklings, and the need to “draw first blood” plunges listeners into a world where only the bold endure. Ultimately, the track serves as a gritty reflection on the brutal reality of fighting for control and respect in unforgiving city streets.
Song Credits
- Artist: Aerosmith
- Songwriters: Steven Tyler, Jimmy Crespo
- Release Year: 1982
- Label: Columbia Records