We built this city
we built this city on rock 'n' roll -
Built this city
we built this city on rock 'n' roll.

Say you don't know me
well
recognize my face.
Say you don't care who goes to that kind of place.
Knee deep in the hoop-la
sinking in your fight.
Too [bad word] eating up the night.

Marconi plays the mamba
listen to the radio.
Don't you remember?
We built this city
we built this city on rock 'n' roll.
We built this city
we built this city on rock 'n' roll -
Built this city
we built this city on rock 'n' roll.
Someone's always playing corporation games.
Who cares they're always changing corporation names.
We just want to dance here but someone stole the stage.
They call us irresponsible
write us off the page.
Marconi plays the mamba
listen to the radio. . . .

It's just another Sunday in a tired old street.
The police have the choke hold
and we just lost the beat.
Who counts the money underneath the bar?
Who rides the wrecking ball into our guitars?
Don't tell us you need us
'cause we're the ship of fools

Looking for America
crawling through your schools.

Don't you remember?
Marconi plays the mamba
listen to the radio. . . .
Built this city
we built this city on rock 'n' roll -
Built this city
we built this city on rock 'n' roll.