[Verse 1]
Oh Lord, won't you tell me, I'm sure I don't know
Who makes the plans that change our lives so?
From a place in the country so peaceful and calm
We moved up to London as the bombs fell around

[Verse 2]
On a street by the river where the rent, it was cheap
The landlord he told us, "It's yours to keep"
For a regular payment, week after week
You will always have a roof under which you can sleep"

[Verse 3]
The years, they passed by, the war came to an end
We lived out our lives, did nothing to offend
But the landlord's conditions, yearly, they grew
With the size of his gut and his housing values

[Verse 4]
He'd kneel on a Sunday and pray to the Lord
For ideals of love his world can't afford
When the bastard, he came 'round to raise up the rent
We swallowed our pride and we smiled our best

[Chorus]
Bricks and mortar, a kingdom of stone
When you go, you're all alone
They'll carve your name where you lie
And I, for one, no tears will cry
[Verse 5]
Greed knows no boundaries, greed does not feel
I'm damned if I'll die for a property deal
The woman next door, she just passed away
For the rent grew so high that she just couldn't pay

[Verse 6]
And here in her bed, she closed up her eyes
The last time she gazed on this world of lies
With nowhere to go and nothing to say
She went to the next world and the bastard, he smiled

[Chorus]
Bricks and mortar, a kingdom of stone
And when you go, you're all alone
They'll carve your name where you lie
And I, for one, no tears will cry

[Verse 7]
Oh Lord, won't you tell me, I'm sure I don't know
What makes some people so callous and cold?
I've lived in this house for forty-four years
My children were born here, it's here I'll grow old

[Verse 8]
A curse on you, bastard landlord, be damned
Who needs one more house like a beach needs more sand?
I'll stay 'til I'm done, only then will I go
'Twas never meant one man should treat others so