We’ve updated our Terms of Use to reflect our new entity name and address. You can review the changes here.
We’ve updated our Terms of Use. You can review the changes here.

Affordable

by The Four Fathers

supported by
Paul R Bass
Paul R Bass thumbnail
SKH
SKH thumbnail
andychiminea
andychiminea thumbnail
bluejules
bluejules thumbnail
/

  • Streaming + Download

    Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
    Purchasable with gift card

      £1 GBP  or more

     

about

A blast of punky, rock and roll indignation, ‘Affordable’ was written just before the occupation of the Old Tidemill Wildlife Garden in Deptford in August 2018, to prevent its destruction for an inappropriate housing development.

The song takes unswerving aim at the lies and spin of the housing ‘regeneration’ industry, in which councils (often Labour councils), housing associations and private developers try to hide the reality of their actions — demolishing existing council homes, and replacing them with new homes for private sale — by attempting to shift people’s focus onto the number of “affordable” rental properties included in the new developments, even though they are not actually “affordable” at all for most working people.

The song was released to mark the first anniversary of the destruction, by Lewisham Council and Peabody, of the trees in the Old Tidemill Wildlife Garden, on February 27, 2019, following the violent eviction of the occupation at the end of October 2018. At the time of writing, no building work has yet taken place on the Tidemill site.

UPDATE May 29, 2020: Check out the video for 'Affordable', made by drummer Bren Horstead, here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=O06dH68uT6g

For further information, see the Save Reginald Save Tidemill campaign: www.facebook.com/savetidemill/
For the anniversary of the destruction of the trees, see: www.andyworthington.co.uk/2020/03/03/the-four-fathers-release-new-song-affordable-marking-the-anniversary-of-the-destruction-of-the-old-tidemill-wildlife-gardens-trees/
And also see Andy’s archive of articles about the occupation, the eviction, and the whole “regeneration” scam: www.andyworthington.co.uk/category/uk-housing-crisis/

lyrics

Affordable (Andy Worthington)

A spectre haunts our streets of social cleansing and estate demolition
Our leaders think we’re soft in the head when they say there is no other solution
To a housing crisis caused by greed and their appetite for class destruction
It’s clear that there’s a serious need for a massive social homebuilding programme

Chorus

When they say affordable it doesn’t mean affordable
Regeneration means they want to knock your house down
There’s nothing faintly laudable about calling things affordable
When you need a household income of 70 or 80 grand
It’s time to make a stand
Take back our common land
It’s time to make a - yeah, it’s time to make a stand good god y’all

Verse (repeat)

Chorus (repeat)

Line-up:

Andy Worthington (lead vocals, guitar)
Richard Clare (guitar, backing vocals)
Bren Horstead (drums and percussion)
Paul Rooke (bass)
Andrew Fifield (harmonica)

credits

released March 3, 2020
Written by Andy Worthington.
Recorded at Equator Studios with Charlie Hart, December 2019 and January 2020. Mixed February 2020.
Cover image by Brendan Horstead.

Reviews

"A great middle finger to Lewishame Council."
Ruth in Brockley

license

all rights reserved

tags

about

The Four Fathers image

The Four Fathers London, UK

Militant, melodic rock & roots reggae band, based in SE London, mostly playing original protest music. Journalist and activist Andy Worthington (lead vocals, electro-acoustic guitar), Richard Clare (electric guitar, vocals), Bren Horstead (drums, percussion), Andrew Fifield (flute, harmonica), Paul Rooke (bass). ... more

contact / help

Contact The Four Fathers

Streaming and
Download help

Report this track or account

If you like The Four Fathers, you may also like:

Bandcamp Daily  your guide to the world of Bandcamp

On Bandcamp Radio

Fabiana Palladino stops by to talk about her mesmeric debut LP.
listen now