A kid is killed on any corner
From Brooklyn Heights to California
There's different ways of gettin' higher
Don't knock it 'til you try it
The summer's hot, the winter's longer
An angry wind is getting stronger
You play it cool you stop the fire
Don't knock it 'til you try it

What we all need now, let me show you how
Don't knock it 'til you try it...

They build a wall around a city
It's not for looks, it isn't pretty
A kid will take his chance and climb it
Don't knock it 'til you try it

Well no one really has to suffer
Tear down the walls around each other
A kid is lucky to survive it
Don't knock it 'til you try it

What we all need now...

For every kid on every corner
I see a wall that stands no longer
The words are written down beside it
Don't knock it 'til you try it

Don't knock it 'til you try it...

[lyrics written by R. Hyman, E. Bazilian]