Watching the people get lairy
It's not very pretty I tell thee
Walking through town is quite scary
It's not very sensible either
A friend of a friend he got beaten
He looked the wrong way at a policeman
Would never have happened to Smeaton
An Old Leodensian
La... la, la, la, la, la
Ah... la, la, la, la, la
I predict a riot
I predict a riot
I predict a riot
I predict a riot
I tried to get to my taxi
The man in a tracksuit attacks me
He said that he saw it before me
And wants to get things a bit gory
Girls scrabble 'round with no clothes on
To borrow a pound for a condom
If it wasn't for chip fat they'd be frozen
They're not very sensible
La... la, la, la, la, la
Ah... la, la, la, la, la
I predict a riot
I predict a riot
I predict a riot
I predict a riot
And if there's anybody left in here
That doesn't want to be out there, oh
Watching the people get lairy
It's not very pretty I tell thee
Walking through town is quite scary
Not very sensible
La... la, la, la, la, la
Ah... la, la, la, la, la
I predict a riot
I predict a riot
I predict a riot
I predict a riot
And if there's anybody left in here
That doesn't want to be out there
I predict a riot
I predict a riot
I predict a riot
I predict a riot
About This Song
"I Predict a Riot" is a sardonic observation of urban violence and social breakdown in early 2000s Britain, told through the lens of a night out gone wrong. The song captures the anxiety and unpredictability of city nightlife, where casual encounters can quickly turn violent, as the narrator witnesses random attacks and feels increasingly unsafe walking through town. Musically, it's driven by angular post-punk revival guitars and an infectious, almost celebratory chorus that contrasts sharply with the dark subject matter, creating an unsettling tension between catchy melodies and social commentary. The lyrics blend working-class British vernacular with specific cultural references (like "Leodensian," referring to Leeds), grounding the universal themes of urban decay in a distinctly Northern English context. The song became an anthem for the mid-2000s indie rock revival while serving as both a warning about social tensions and a darkly humorous snapshot of British street culture.
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