Hostile
Urban Struggle: Confronting Hostile Architecture in the Streets
Lyrics
I'm trying to sleep with spikes in my back
I experience discomfort, possibly due to homelessness.
Came here after cops kicked my ass
I arrived here after a confrontation with the police.
Trying to sleep in the park
Attempting to sleep in a public space.
Where I go when the shelters are full
Resorting to a park when shelters are full.
My heads screwed on wrong
Feeling mentally disturbed or unwell.
Said "fix it or you got no home"
Told to address my mental issues or risk homelessness.
Went to the doc to get it straight
Visited a doctor for mental health, faced insurance issues.
Said "come back with insurance"
Insurance required for necessary treatment.
The politicians act like I'm the problem
Politicians blame me as if I'm the cause of societal issues.
The cops beat me without a problem
Police violence faced without justification.
Sleeping on spikes and a bench made to hurt my back
Sleeping uncomfortably due to intentional design.
Hostile architecture is evidence that my life's a crime
Hostile architecture reflects the criminalization of my life.
Loitering's illegal but I've got nowhere to go
Loitering is illegal, but I lack alternatives.
Was told to get a job, couldn't get one without a home
Advised to get a job, impossible without a home.
Back to the bench after getting pulled from my tent
Returned to discomfort after being removed from my tent.
Relegated to the bend breaking my back
Forced into painful conditions, breaking my back.
In a scene derived to divert attention
A scene designed to divert attention from real issues.
Its failure met with contemptment and disdain
Failure met with complacency and disdain.
The city just pulled all
The city removed all porta-potties from this block.
Of the porta-potties from this block
Lack of basic facilities in the area.
All the signs say
Signs indicating no public restrooms available.
No public restrooms
Liberals advocating change but not in their neighborhood.
Fucking liberals yelling "something needs to change"
Frustration with the hypocrisy of some liberals.
"But not my backyard, not my backyard"
Experiencing discomfort due to intentional design.
Sleeping on spikes and a bench made to hurt my back
Repeated reference to sleeping in discomfort.
Hostile architecture is evidence that my life's a crime
Hostile architecture as a symbol of a criminalized life.
Loitering's illegal but I've got nowhere to go
Loitering is illegal, but lacking alternatives.
Was told to get a job, couldn't get one without a home
Challenged to find employment without a home.
Rain breaks my respite at
Rain disrupts my shelter at an enclosed bus stop.
The enclosed bus stop
Bus stop design inadequacies leading to discomfort.
Panels stop before the ceiling
Incomplete panels causing exposure to the elements.
And now I'm soaked on this cold night
Getting soaked on a cold night due to poor shelter.
People like talking
People talk extensively about problems.
Talking a big game
People prefer talking over taking action.
People like inaction
People avoid facing societal issues directly.
People like to avert their sight
Aversion to acknowledging the struggles of others.
Fucking Hostile
Expressing frustration with hostile architecture.
Fucking Hostile
Repetition of frustration with hostile architecture.
Architecture
Highlighting the negative impact of architectural design.
Sleeping on spikes and a bench made to hurt my back
Continued reference to uncomfortable conditions.
Hostile architecture is evidence that my life's a crime
Hostile architecture symbolizes a criminalized life.
Loitering's illegal but I've got nowhere to go
Illegal loitering due to a lack of alternatives.
Was told to get a job, couldn't get one without a home
Challenged to find employment without a home.
Fucking Hostile
Expressing frustration with hostile architecture.
Fucking Hostile
Repetition of frustration with hostile architecture.
Architecture
Reiterating the negative impact of architectural design.
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