Open Letter (To a Landlord)

Now you can tear a building down

But you can't erase a memory

These houses may look all run down

But they have a value you can't see

This is my neighborhood

This is where I come from

I call this place my home

You call this place a slum

You wanna run the people out

This is what you're all about

Treat poor people just like trash

Turn around and make big cash

Now you can tear a building down

But you can't erase a memory

These houses may look all run down

But they have a value you can't see

Last month there was a fire

I saw seven children die

You sent flowers to their families

But your sympathy's a lie

'Cause every building that you burn

Is more blood money that you earn

We are forced to relocate

From the pain that you create

Now you can tear a building down

But you can't erase a memory

These houses may look all run down

But they have a value you can't see

Now you can tear a building down

But you can't erase a memory

These houses may look all run down

But they have a value you can't see

We lived here for so many years

Now this house is full of fear

For a profit you will take control

Where will all the older people go?

There used to be when kids could play

Without the scourge of drug's decay

Now our kids are living dead

They crack and blow their lives away

Now you can tear a building down

But you can't erase a memory

These houses may look all run down

But they have a value you can't see

Now you can tear a building down

But you can't erase a memory

These houses may look all run down

But they have a value you can't see

You've got to fight

You've got to fight

You've got to fight

For your neighborhood

You've got to fight

For your neighbor