[Intro – stomp-clap in 5/4, distant barking, a voice cutting through] Stomp-stomp-clap — stomp-stomp-clap — Bark! Bark-bark-bark! Female voice, call: Who runs the alley when the sun goes down? Gang echo: Bill's Stray Gang! We own this town! Stomp-stomp-clap — stomp-stomp-clap — [Verse 1 – rap, female first, then male] (Female) We were born in the gutter with the rain in our eyes But we turned every puddle to a mirror for the skies We don't wait for permission, we don't knock on a door We take back what was stolen from the hungry and the poor (Male) Every penthouse plate was built on a stray's back We ain't looking for revenge, we just taking back the slack Redistribute the cream, no dog left behind This ain't charity, nah — it's a freedom state of mind [Pre-Chorus – sung, both voices, building harmony] No leash on the neck, no crown on the head We walk like the wind and we eat the rich's bread Every sister a soldier, every brother a shield The street is our gospel, the truth is revealed [Chorus – sung like a freedom hymn, full gang] Oh-oh-oh, we rise with the moon! No king, no cop can break our tune! We rob from the vaults, we feed every stray! Equality's fire in Bill's Gang today! Stomp-stomp-clap — the five-four way — No leash, no crown, we won't obey! [Verse 2 – rap trade-off, faster flow] (Male) She carries the map, she carries the flame She's my equal in the struggle, we share every claim (Female) He's my brother in the dust, my partner in the raid No hierarchy of bones in this barricade (Together) We howl at the moon but we whisper to the meek We break the chains and we lift the weak The only collar we accept is the arm of a friend And this pack of strays will never bend [Pre-Chorus – full gang, shouted] No leash on the neck, no crown on the head! We walk like the wind and we eat the rich's bread! Every sister a soldier, every brother a shield! The street is our gospel, the truth is revealed! [Chorus – bigger, more voices, hymnal] Oh-oh-oh, we rise with the moon! No king, no cop can break our tune! We rob from the vaults, we feed every stray! Equality's fire in Bill's Gang today! Stomp-stomp-clap — the five-four way — No leash, no crown, we won't obey! [Bridge – half-time spoken word over slow stomp] Stomp… stomp… clap… (Female spoken) They call it thievery. We call it repair. The world drew a line — we're already over there. (Male spoken) Every safe we crack, every gate we spring, Is a note in the song that the free strays sing. [Verse 3 – rap, both voices interweaving, intense] (F) We are the teeth of the alleys, the claws of the streets! (M) We take the fat, give the thin something sweet! (F) No master, no master, the word is erased! (M) Woman and man, side by side, interlaced! (Together) Bill's Stray Gang, we're the thunder, we're the flood! We don't deal in bullets but we deal in blood — The blood of the promise, the kin that we choose! No one left hungry, no one left bruised! [Final Chorus – all voices, shouting, clapping, stomping, peak of the hymn] OH-OH-OH, WE RISE WITH THE MOON! NO KING, NO COP CAN BREAK OUR TUNE! WE ROB FROM THE VAULTS, WE FEED EVERY STRAY! EQUALITY'S FIRE IN BILL'S GANG TODAY! Stomp-stomp-clap — the five-four way — NO LEASH, NO CROWN, WE WON'T OBEY! WE WON'T OBEY! WE WON'T OBEY! [Outro – stomps fade, a cappella whisper] Stomp… stomp… clap… (Solo voice, fading) No leash… no crown… just paw in paw… (Gang whisper) Bill's Stray Gang… Bill's Stray Gang… [One last bark echoing into silence.]
