Rusty Strings Collective

8 – Gentrification Song
Recorded by: She Feels Like Pittsburgh
From the Album: Groovin' The Mill

Lyrics and notes

look at all the buildings
vacant boarded buildings
look as they all fall down

look at the factories
historical decay
watch as they tear them all down

and look as they build up
condos and shopping malls
condos and shopping malls
in their place

look as they move in
move in and gentrify
under the guise of urban renewal

and watch as they take away
our beautiful city
our rustbelt city
for corporate interests

and watch as they fix up
the facades of all the buildings
while the insides rot away

so they can tempt the wealthy
make it accessible for the money
and displace another neighborhood

and watch as they move in
coffeeshops and galleries
into the poor neighborhoods
"its good for our economy"

look as they prey upon dreams
look as they prey upon talent
to aid in their
gentrification machine

and i'm crying
my city is dying
soon there'll be nothing left here to explore
oh i'm crying
my city is dying
soon there'll be very little left to adore
don't take our city
don't take my city from me
don't take our city
don't take my city from me
so let's rise up and take it back
said let's rise up and take it back
come on let's rise up and take it back from this machine...