Black Day In July

This week at Glyn Wilton’s Mixed Music Bag,
he’s asking us to write about a song in which
the title or a line mentions the current month. 
Here’s my featured July artist and his song.

This is not a happy-go-lucky song, as you can tell by the title of my post and photo above. I have chosen to present the facts as we know them and not romanticize them in any way. There’s enough info online if you choose to go there. https://www.detroithistorical.org/learn/online-research/encyclopedia-of-detroit/uprising-1967

Today marks 58 years since the 1967 Detroit riots … one of the most violent and destructive civil disturbances in 20^th-Century America, lasting five days (July 23-27). It was triggered by a police raid on an unlicensed after-hours bar … or ‘blind pig’ … on 12^th Street in the predominantly Black neighborhood of Village Park.

The raid quickly turned into widespread rioting, looting, and arson, resulting in significant property damage, injuries, and fatalities. When the situation spread to other parts of the city, Governor George M. Romney of Michigan declared a state of emergency and mobilized the National Guard. President Lyndon Johnson ultimately sent in US Army paratroopers to help restore order.

There were 43 deaths, hundreds of injuries, thousands of arrests, and extensive property damage. The riot was not a spontaneous event; it was fueled by years of racial injustice, police brutality, poor housing, lack of jobs, and poverty in the Black community.

In 1968, Canadian folk singer Gordon Lightfoot released the album Did She Mention My Name? One of the tracks was a song called “Black Day In July”, written by Lightfoot … a powerful and poignant recounting of the events of the riot. Over seven verses, Lightfoot captures the violence and destruction of the unrest, as well as the sense of shock and despair that people felt in the aftermath of the violence. He sings about the hope for a better future and the need for understanding and compassion between all people.

Despite its powerful message, censorship of “Black Day In July” led to it being banned by radio stations in 30 states. The ban was largely because of the song’s explicit references to police brutality and racial injustice, which some radio stations felt were too controversial for their audiences.

This is “Black Day In July” by Gordon Lightfoot

LYRICS

Black Day in July
Motor City madness has touched the countryside
And through the smoke and cinders you can hear it far and wide
The doors are quickly bolted and the children locked inside
Black Day in July
Black Day in July
And the soul of Motor City is feared across the land
As the book of law and order is taken in the hands
Of the sons of the fathers who were carried to this land
Black Day in July
Black Day in July
In the streets of Motor City there’s a deadly silent sound
And the body of a dead youth lies stretched upon the ground
Upon the filthy pavement no reason can be found
Black Day in July
Black Day in July
Motor City madness has touched the countryside
And the people rise in anger and the streets begin to fill
And there’s gunfire from the rooftops and the blood begins to spill
Black Day in July
In the mansion of the Governor there’s nothing that is known for sure
The telephone is ringing and the pendulum is swinging
And they wonder how it happened and they really know the reason
And it wasn’t just the temperature and it wasn’t just the season
Black Day in July
Black Day in July
Motor City’s burning and the flames are running wild
They reflect upon the waters of the river and the lake
And everyone is listening and everyone’s awake
Black Day in July
Black Day in July
The printing press is turning and the news is quickly flashed
And you read your morning paper and you sip your cup of tea
And you wonder just in passing is it him or is it me
Black Day in July
In the Office of the President the deed is done the troops are sent
There’s really not much choice you see it looks to us like anarchy
And then the tanks go rolling in patch things up as best they can
There is no time to hesitate the speech is made the dues can wait
Black Day in July
Black Day in July
The streets of Motor City now are are quiet and serene
But the shapes of gutted buildings strike terror to the heart
And you say how did it happen and you say how did it start
Why can’t we all be brothers why can’t we live in peace
But the hands of the the have-nots keep falling out of reach
Black Day in July
Black Day in July
Motor City madness has touched the countryside
And through the smoke and cinders you can hear it far and wide
The doors are quickly bolted and the children locked inside
Black Day in July
Black Day in July
Black Day in July

Source: Musixmatch
Songwriters: Gordon Lightfoot
Black Day in July lyrics © Wb Music Corp.

Mixed Music Bag 2025 – July Flame

Big thanks to Glyn Wilton for hosting Mixed Music Bag each week. Please be sure to follow the link and check out Glyn’s site.

Thanks for joining me today.

See you on the flip side. 😎

NAR©2025

All text, graphics and videos are copyright for Nancy’s Notes 🖊️🎶, The Sicilian Storyteller, The Elephant’s Trunk, and The Rhythm Section, et. al., and are not to be used without permission. NAR©2017-present.