Yup, Mousethief is right about urban plight/flight in this decade of the aughts, being much different than the 50s and 60s flight, especially regarding the cost of housing for urban poor folk. Ani misses the point of that one completely. Maybe because she hasn't ever lived the reality she is singing about? Artists get into troubles like this (I mean with poor quality lyrics) when they overreach their lived experience trying to create their images.

Images are damn hard to conjur, hold, and then transmit to an audience. If you ain't authentic, it shows pretty much right away. That is what happened with this song, IMO.

But Ani does write some excellent songs--I love her. Really do love her. But not to the extent that I'm willing to abandon my critical faculties to worship at her feet.