Lyrics We Almost Lost Detroit (Live 1983) - Gil Scott-Heron

It stands out on a highway
Like a creature from another time
It inspires the babies' questions—"what's that?"
For their mothers as they ride
But no one stopped to think about the babies or
How they would survive, and we
Almost lost Detroit this time
How would we ever get over
Losing our minds?
Just thirty miles from Detroit
They built a giant power station
It ticks each night as the city sleeps
Seconds from annihilation
Yeah, but no one stopped to think about the people
Or how they would survive, and we've
Almost lost Detroit this time
And how would we ever get over
Over losing our minds?
The sheriff of Monroe county had
I'm sure enough disasters on his mind
And what would Karen Silkwood say to you
I mean if she was still alive
That when it comes to people's safety
Money wins out every time
And we've almost lost Detroit
This time, yeah this time
How would we ever get over
Over losing our minds?
You see, we almost lost Detroit
That time
We almost lost Detroit
That time
And how would we ever get over, over
And how would we ever get over, over
I don't think I would ever get over, over
People all over the world wanna know
Say, didn't you know?
People all over the world wanna know
Say, didn't you know
We almost lost Detroit
That time, totally destroyed
That time, how would you get over, over
I don't think I would ever get over, over
I don't think I would ever get over, over
I don't think I would ever get over, over
We're not thinking all over the world wanna know
Say, didn't you know
People all over the world wanna know
Say, didn't you know
We almost lost Detroit
That time
Damn near totally destroyed
That time
I don't think I would ever get over, over
I don't think I would ever get over, over
How would you ever get over, over
Talking about over, over
I don't think I would ever get over
Over losing my mind