Trouble on the waterfront
Evil in the air
When the Chinatown patrol came down
To bring a little order there
They came in undercover
To the laundry's back room
And right there before their eyes
Was a Shanghai saloon
Shoot out in Chinatown
They lined them up against the wall
They're gonna turn the place upside down
Till you won't recognize it at all
Streets were wide open
Till the break of dawn
'Twas Frisco in its heyday
Imported from Hong Kong
For about five dollars
Or one thousand yen
You could gamble and ramble in a brothel
Or take it to the opium den
Shoot out in Chinatown
They nailed up every door
They're gonna level it to the ground
And close it up for evermore
Confucius had once stated
All across the land
Below the surface, crime and love
They go hand in hand
The fire dragons burn
Buddha's lost his smile
But swears that we will meet again
In just a little while

Till you won't recognize it at all

Copyright: Universal Music Publishing Group
Writer(s): Robbie Robertson