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Gentrification Refugee

from Roubles and Kopecks by Sam Steffen

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lyrics

They’re building up the city—everybody’s making room
they’re putting up their signs that say—apartments coming soon!
All the people who once lived there, who had to sell their properties
are now gentrification refugees

the word’s “gentrification”—and you might think it means progress
and if you’re lookin to move in here, it probably does, I guess
but if you’ve passed your life here, if you’re someone like me
you know “gentrification” means “refugee”

Developers are coming in—they’re buying all the land
They’re building everything brand new, according to their plans
They talk about creating a strong community
Without the gentrification refugees

Now you don’t have to move out, the developers all say
But the rent’s about quadrupled, so you’ll go broke if you stay
I guess the “neighborhood improvement” don’t apply to me
I’m a gentrification refugee

My parents lived in this house—since the day that they were wed
I always thought I’d be here til they carried me out dead
When the moving truck pulls out of here, let the bumper sticker read:
Gentrification refugee

They bulldozed the old Woolworth’s—built a high-rise parkinglot
Tore out the mom and pop place, put in a corporate coffeeshop
What will mom and pop do in their old age and bankruptcy?
As new gentrification refugees?

They turned the old cathedral into a climbing gym
they demolished the old high school, put a strip-mall in
What they’re going to change next—I won’t be here to see
I’m a gentrification refugee

Now there’s plenty of things to do here—no, you never will get bored
Unless the entertainment’s more than you can afford
If you can’t pay for admission, join the caravan for free
Of the gentrification refugees

Demographic’s changing, it’s a new population
Poor blacks is bein swept out—white money’s movin in
You can draw a hard line tween the new folks of the city
And the gentrification refugees

They say don’t be nostalgiac—change it can be good
But there’s nothing familiar about my own neighborhood
It won’t stay this way for long—that’s a timeless prophesy
But I’m a gentrification refugee

Where’m I sposed to go now? I haven’t got a home
Nowhere I can be at rest, no place to call my own
I guess I’ll hit the highway, long with friends and family
Join the gentrification refugees

They say not to get angry—the times is all that you can blame
But I lived here all my life so far, rent’s always been the same
Somebody must’ve sold out, for a little do-re-me
Joined the gentrification refugees

It’s happenin in New York and the San Fransisco Bay
In all the major cities all across the USA
It’s happening most everywhere I can’t afford to be
They’re makin gentrification refugees

You can’t just be a victim, tho I know it’s hard to fathom
Every place you go now, you’re just adding to the problem
They say gentrification’s caused by rambling folks like me
Tho I’m gentrification’s refugee

credits

from Roubles and Kopecks, released September 14, 2020

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Sam Steffen Boise, Idaho

Sam Steffen is a Pennsylvania-bred, Boise-based singer-songwriter whose songs are the torch-wood for a new generation of folk music that has learned from the best stuff in the tradition and aims in spite of everything to keep the human spirit alive and kicking. A versatile musician and skilled finger-picker, Sam is at heart a story-teller, and a prolific one. ... more

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