Open Letter Lyrics - Living Colour

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 want to run all the people out 

This what you're all about 

Treat poor people just like trash 

Turn around and make big cash 

[Chorus:] 

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 

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Last month there was a fire 

I saw seven children die 

You sent flowers to their family 

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 

[Chorus] 

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 

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[Chorus] 

You've got to fight 

You've got a right 

To fight for your neighborhood!