This Is Our House

Long ago there was a safe place
We called home
We heard a knock on the door
Mamma said, "Don't answer", I didn't hear her
There were these men dressed up in green uniforms
They wanted to talk to Mom
I called her name, but something had changed
First time in my life I was afraid

Mister, go away
This is our house
My papa built it, you see
He built it for my mom and me
Mister, go away
This is our house
When he was alive, you see
He built it on his hands and knees

I was not supposed to hear
But I put the door to my ear
Trying to hear what they had to say
They shouldn't have been talking
To my momma that way
Through her tears that night
I could see the rest of my life
Well, they said we don't belong
Momma, why didn't you tell them they were wrong?

Mister, go away
This is our house
My papa built it, you see
He built it for my mom and me
Now, mister, go away
This is our house
When he was alive, you see
He built it on his hands and knees, oh

(Go away, this is our house)
Oh, have things really changed?
Do I really own my name?
Go away, this is our house
Go away, this is our house