Written about the residents of Newham in East London, and in particular the campaigners in Focus 15, who are fighting a long battle to secure social housing in the area. Newham council sought to relocate long-term residents as far away as Manchester, Birmingham and Stoke-on-Tent. Whilst we understand the housing crisis in the UK has no easy solutions, the injustice of ripping people from their communities cannot be the answer.
You can read more about Focus 15 at their website.
Moved on
I’m of this place, my story is here
It holds together the thread of my years
My tale is written on the streets where I stand
I’m living my life is in this city
Chorus
I’m not worth the land that I live on
Though I’ve lived here for all of my life
Three generations have rooted me here
Now I’m moved on and kept out of sight
This place has been changing for many years now
So much has been lost, too much has closed down
It’s harder to find somewhere to be still
And there’s nowhere to be without spending
Chorus
For all of it’s faults this place is my home
Three generations have called it their own
My life it is here, it’s not in the north,
In the east or the west, or wherever we’re forced
Chorus
We must make way for progress if that's what this is
So the land can be sold for the highest bid
We must cut off our ties and forget our lives
And move to where we’re not noticed
Chorus
From where you are sitting it may all make sense
We’ve got to move forward, it’s the times that we’re in
But heed my advice this city’s being torn
From the people who hold it together
Chorus
Chorus
Jimmy Aldridge