D  A D


[Verse 1]
D                Bm        G
Hush little baby don't you cry
D                     A
Please don't mind the screaming
D                                Bm           G
From the man in the alley on the small of his back
      D                  A
The police man's knee is kneelin'
D                     Bm      G
I'll tell you an open secret, child
    D           A
Not everyone is knowin'
D                           Bm        G
But if that little man ever left this place
        D               A
You and I would soon be goin'


[Chorus]
       D                     Bm         G
'Cause that's what keeps the rent down, baby
D                     A         D
That's what keeps the rent down low
                      Bm        G
That's what keeps the rent down baby
D                     A         D
That's what keeps the rent down low


[Verse 2]
D                             Bm    G
Your mama ain't rich, she's a music man
     D            A
Your daddy he's a painter
D                         Bm       G
We took over the lease on this old house
     D                     A
From men whose hearts were fainter
D                                Bm
'Cause we don't mind the painted ladies
G          D                 A
With their weeping souls all swollen
D                           Bm     G
And we don't mind that everyone we know
    D                A
Has had their stereo stolen


[Chorus]
D                            Bm         G
'Cause that's what keeps the rent down, baby
D                     A         D
That's what keeps the rent down low
                      Bm        G
That's what keeps the rent down baby
D                     A         D
That's what keeps the rent down low


[Guitar Solo]
D  Bm  D     Bm   D
A D   A D



[Verse 3]
D                    Bm      G
One fine morning you wake up to
    D              A
Bulldozers and renovation
D                              Bm
'Cause folks like your mom and dad
    G          D                 A
Are just shock troops of gentrification
        D               Bm
For the single young professionals
    D                             A
Who find the neighborhood hip and charming
D                                        Bm                G
But if they heard about the lady who got chopped up in the alley
       D  N.C.
They'd probably find it alarming


[Chorus]
    D                     Bm         G
And that's what keeps the rent down, baby
D                     A         D
That's what keeps the rent down low
                      Bm        G
That's what keeps the rent down baby
D                     A            D
That's what keeps the rent down low