Retalitory eviction is an illegal act by a landlord or his agent to deprive a tenant of the full use of his rental space in response to the tenant's complaint about substandard living conditions; examples include utility cut-offs, changing locks, and other self-help acts.
RETALITORY EVICTION DITTY
(Written by Dale Cohen and Hugh McGuinness, two Ann Arbor tenant organizers, in 1979; As adapted by Charles Ipcar, 1981 Tune: traditional Mr. Noah)
Oh, Mr. Landlord! Oh, Mr. Landlord! Can you fix the roof, 'Cause it leaks real bad? I'm getting mighty wet And getting mighty mad!
Oh, no, I can't, sir; Oh, no I can't, sir; I can't fix the leak' 'Cause I haven't got the time; Just use a bucket; It won't cost me a dime. (CHO)
Well, go to the Devil, sir! Well, go to the Devil, sir! I'll call the inspector And withhold my rent; I may get wet But you won't get a cent. (CHO)
Now, young fella, Now, young fella, That's all damn bluff; I don't like such sass; If you don't pay the rent, You'll be out on your ass! (CHO)
The above parody is another example of recent housing and neighborhood organizing songs I've collected over the past 30 years and which will hopefully be published soon in The Pity The Downtrodden Landlord Songbook. We're still open to other contributions.
Landlady's Daughter, not to be confused with Charley Noble et al