[Intro: Slow, gritty acoustic guitar strumming, deep resonant bass, faint harmonica] [Verse 1] Granddad worked the fields at dawn, Built his house with hands worn strong. Didn't have a lot to spare, But he knew what brought him there. Now we live behind a screen, Buying things we've never seen. Got a thousand ways to choose, But we're scared of what we'll lose. [Pre-Chorus] We traded sweat for easy days, Traded dirt for paved highways. And somewhere in the things we've gained, We learned to love our golden chains. [Chorus] What's the price of freedom? What's it gonna cost? When everything is given, Tell me what we've lost. We built ourselves a kingdom, With walls we cannot see. And every little comfort, Takes a little liberty. Oh, what's the price of freedom? And who collects the fee? [Verse 2] Got a phone that knows my name, Knows my wants before I say. Every road and every turn, Every lesson I should learn. Got a bank to hold my pay, Got a card to spend away. Got a number, got a file, Got permission with a smile. [Pre-Chorus] And they promise us protection, From the things we cannot see. But every new connection, Makes another dependency. [Chorus] What's the price of freedom? What's it gonna cost? When everything is given, Tell me what we've lost. We built ourselves a kingdom, With walls we cannot see. And every little comfort, Takes a little liberty. Oh, what's the price of freedom? And who collects the fee? [Instrumental: Driving acoustic guitar, stomping percussion, harmonica melody] [Verse 3] We don't know the farmer's name, Don't know where the water came. Don't know how to mend the wheel, Or grow ourselves another meal. And if the lights should disappear, Would we rise or live in fear? Would we find our neighbors' hands, Or fight for what's left of the land? [Bridge: Music drops to fingerpicked guitar, intimate raspy vocals] I don't want the old days back, With all the things those people lacked. I like the warmth, I like the light, And knowing someone's safe tonight. But there's a difference, don't you see, Between a choice and dependency. And if I cannot walk away, Was I ever free to stay? [Final Chorus: Powerful, strained vocals, fuller acoustic rhythm] What's the price of freedom? What's it gonna cost? If we forget the meaning, Of everything we've lost. We don't need to burn the kingdom, Or tear the whole thing down. Just remember how to stand, With our feet upon the ground. Oh, what's the price of freedom? Maybe more than we can see. But the things that make life easy, Shouldn't tell us who to be. [Outro: Slower acoustic guitar, harmonica fades] I don't need a world without walls, Or a life without a chain. Just the courage to decide, Which ones are worth the pain. [Softly spoken, almost whispered] Freedom was never free. But neither was giving it away. [End: Single resonant acoustic chord]
