Rent
Fredi Walker Lyrics

How do you document real life
How can you accurately capture the essence of everyday existence

When real life's getting more
When reality is becoming increasingly intense

Like fiction each day
Resembling a work of fiction on a daily basis

Headlines, bread lines
News headlines and long queues for basic necessities

Blow my mind
Overwhelm or astonish me

And now this deadline
And now this ultimatum

"Eviction or pay"
"Face eviction or pay the rent"

Rent
The burden of paying for housing

How do you write a song
How do you create a piece of music

When the chords sound wrong
When the musical harmony feels incorrect

Though they once sounded right and rare
Despite sounding perfect and unique at one time

When the notes are sour
When the melodic tones are unpleasant

Where is the power
Where is the artistic inspiration or influence

You once had to ignite the air
That used to ignite the atmosphere with emotion

We're hungry and frozen
We are deprived of basic needs like food and warmth

Some life that we've chosen
This is the life we have selected or ended up in

How we gonna pay
How are we going to afford

Last year's rent
The rent from the previous year that is still unpaid

How do you start a fire
How do you ignite a passion

When there's nothing to burn
When there is no fuel or material available

And it feels like something's stuck in your flue
And it feels like there is an obstruction blocking your creativity

How can you generate heat
How can you create warmth or intensity

When you can't feel your feet
When you are emotionally or physically numb

And they're turning blue
And they are losing vitality or life

You light up a mean blaze
You ignite a powerful and impactful fire

With posters
Using visual representations, like posters

And screenplays
And scripts for films or plays

How we gonna pay
How are we going to afford

Last year's rent
The rent from the previous year that is still unpaid

How do you stay on your feet
How do you remain resilient or stable

When on every street
When everywhere you look

It's 'trick or treat'
There are challenges and uncertainties

And tonight its 'trick'
And tonight it's a deceptive situation

'Welcome back to town'
A sarcastic or mocking remark upon returning

I should lie down
I should rest or take a break

Everything's brown
Everything seems dull or bleak

And uh oh
And, oh no

I feel sick
I feel unwell or nauseous

Where is he?
Where is the person I'm looking for?

Getting dizzy
Becoming disoriented or confused

How we gonna pay
How are we going to afford

Last year's rent
The rent from the previous year that is still unpaid

The music ignites the night with passionate fire
The music sets the night ablaze with intense emotions

The narration crackles and pops with incendiary wit
The storytelling is filled with sharp and fiery humor

Zoom in as they burn the past to the ground
Focus closely as they destroy their previous lives completely

And feel the heat of the future's glow
And experience the intense anticipation of the future

How do you leave the past behind
How do you move on from your history

When it keep finding ways to get to your heart
When it continues to affect your emotions deeply

It reaches way down deep and tears you inside out
It reaches into your core and completely devastates you

'Til you're torn apart
Until you are completely shattered or broken

Rent
The ongoing financial obligation for housing

How can you connect in an age
How can you establish genuine connections in a modern era

Where strangers, landlords, lovers
Where unfamiliar people, property owners, and romantic partners

Your own blood cells betray
Even your own body betrays or fails you

What binds the fabric together
What holds the world together

When the raging, shifting winds of change
When the uncontrollable and ever-changing winds of change

Keep ripping away
Keep tearing apart

Draw a line in the sand
Establish a clear boundary

And then make a stand
And then take a firm position

Use your camera to spar
Use your camera as a means of fighting or expressing yourself

Use your guitar
Use your guitar as a tool for self-expression

When they act tough
When they pretend to be strong or intimidating

You call their bluff
You expose their deception

We're not gonna pay
We refuse to pay

Last year's rent
The rent from the previous year that is still unpaid

This year's rent
The rent for the current year that is due

Next year's rent
The rent for the following year

Rent rent rent rent rent
The repeated burden and obligation of paying rent

We're not gonna pay rent
We refuse to pay the rent

'Cause everything is rent
Because everything comes with a cost or obligation