In the Fourth Ward here in Houston On the west side of downtown Lies 80 blocks Of prime real estate lots In a place called Freedmen's Town The Freed Slaves built the neighborhood That was condemned as "urban blight" Their land was taken away By eminent domain To build apartments for the whites It was a land - grab - in Freedmen's Town Handed down to Mayor Brown Who sits around City Hall While developers take it all Now LaGuarta - he's a developer The head of Houston Renaissance Mayor Bob Lanier Put the man in there To get 'im anything he wants They trashed the most historic homes Now they claim that they're in debt They've spent millions of dollars On affordable houses But we haven't seen one yet! Cuz it's a land - grab - in Freedmen's Town From Bob Lanier to Mayor Brown Who sits around City Hall While developers have a ball Now Councilmember Parker And Mister Wallstin at the Press The more corruption they find The more they just keep tryin' To make sense of all this mess It shouldn't take an act of Congress To keep Freedmen's Town alive Call the Mayor up -- Extension twenty-two hundred Or his fax: two, three, five, five* And let's all - call - on Mayor Brown To stop the land grab in Freedmen's Town Why sit around City Hall While historic houses fall? Yeah, let's all - call - Mayor Brown And stop the racket in Freedmen's Town Why sit around City Hall While developers take it all? Why sit around City Hall And let developers take us all? * Mayor's Office: (713)247-2200 Mayor's Fax Line: (713)247-2355