The summer that I turned 16
I had my independence day
Snuck down to the rich neighborhood
Near the fireworks display
Green lawns washed in black
All reflecting exploding light
We crept up to a house big and white
With the back door open wide

Thereʼs no honor
Among suburban paupers

Independence day for a petty thief
Independence day for a scoundrel

Young and old, they stared like zombies
At the red and blue and grey
Every soul was in the bleachers
About four blocks away
From inside it sounded like thunder claps
Or a town being laid to waist
My heart was beating a boom, boom, boom, boom
As we filled up our pillow case

Free
Dumb

Independence day for a petty thief
Independence day for a scoundrel

(Sinner, you better get ready)
(Oh, you better get ready, hallellujah)
(Sinner, you better get ready)
(Time is coming when the sinner must die)
(Sinner, you better get ready)

Independence day for a petty thief
Independence day for a scoundrel

The summer that I turned 16
I had my independence day