Words and music by Jimi Hendrix.
Recorded: Record Plant, New York, August 23, 1968.
Producer: Chas Chandler                                    Engineer: Eddie Kramer
Guitar, Bass guitar, Voice and Lead vocals: Jimi Hendrix
Drums: Mitch Mitchell
Notes: This song was inspired by some riots in Los Angeles where houses had been set on fire.
The sprakling flame-sounds in the background are actually Jimi's guitar.

Look at the sky turn a hell fire red.
Somebody's house is burning down, down, down, down!
Down, down, down.

Well, I asked my friend; "where is that black smoke comin' from?"
He just coughed and changed the subject and
said "oh wa I think it might snow some."
So I left him sippin' his tea and I jumped in my chariot
and rode off to see just why and who could it be this time.

Sisters and brothers, daddys, mothers standing 'round cryin'.
When I reached the scene the flames were makin' a ghostly whine,
so I stood on my horse's back and I screamed without a crack.
I say "oh baby why'd you burn your brother's house down?"

Hey! Hey! Hey!

Look at the sky turn a hell fire red, Lord,
somebody's house is burnin' down down, down down.
Look at the sky turn a hell fire red, Lord,
somebody's house is burnin' down, down, down, down down.

Well someone stepped from the crowd he was nineteen miles high.
He shouts retired and disgusted so we paint red through the sky.
I said the truth is straight ahead, so don't burn yourself instead.
Try to learn instead of burn, hear what I say, yeah, yeah.

So I fin'ly rode away but I'll never forget that day
'Cause when I reached the valley I looked way down 'cross the way.
A giant boat from space landed with eerie grace
and came and taked all the dead away.

Hey! Hey! Hey!

What'd I say?
Look at the sky turn a hell fire red, Lord,
somebody's house is burning down down, down down.
Look at the sky turn a hell fire red, Lord,
somebody's house is burning down down, down down.
Look at the sky, look at the sky.

Ooh, ooh, ooh.
Ooh, ooh, ooh.
Oh, baby.