The Possessed Class

# THE POSSESSED CLASS
*What If This? What If That?*

[Intro — FEMALE, whisper, piano]

*What if this? What if that?*
*What if a smile's a silver knife behind somebody's back?*

[MALE — spoken]
**They called us the possessed class.**
**I possessed a pen and purpose. That's all I ever had.**

[Verse 1 — MALE, triplets, sparse 808]

Basement-born, bills blinked red beside the bed,
Bosses bought another boat while we were begging to be fed.
Pawned my pride, patched my pants, practiced pitches past dawn,
Put a pocketful of problems in a song.

**The 48 Laws of Power** helped me recognize the game,
But I wrote one law myself: never profit off their pain.
**The Art of Seduction** showed how stories stir a crowd,
But I'd never sell a smile I couldn't stand to say out loud.

**The 33 Strategies of War**: protect your peace,
**The 50th Law**: face your fear till fear begins to cease.
**Mastery**: midnight miles with nobody to applaud,
**The Laws of Human Nature**: find the hurt beneath the fraud.
**The Daily Laws**: do the daily; let the little lessons stack,
See a crooked system clearly, still refuse to rig it back.

[Pre-Chorus — FEMALE, ascending piano]

*What if this? What if that?*
*What if your brilliant blueprint turns your heartbeat into math?*
*What if every promise gets a price tag and a plaque?*
*What if you make it to the White House and you never make it back?*

[Chorus — BOTH, gospel harmonies]

**FEMALE:** *What if this? What if that?*
*What if the crown's a cage painted like a flag?*
**MALE:** **What if the doors are only closed 'cause nobody pushed 'em back?**
**I don't need a golden throne; I need a key and a map.**

**FEMALE:** *What if a hero gets addicted to the praise?*
**MALE:** **Then look me in the eyes and call me out before I change.**
**BOTH:** **From the floor to the front door, hear the thunder, feel the brass—**
**They called us the possessed class; we possessed a voice at last!**

[Verse 2 — MALE, double-time, stabbing piano]

**The Law of Success** put a purpose in my palm,
**Think and Grow Rich** gave a vision; work is what kept it strong.
**Outwitting the Devil** said don't drift, decide, depart,
Built a bold-eyed mastermind from the brokenhearted.

**The Master Key to Riches**? Can't unlock it on your own,
**The Magic Ladder to Success**? Every rung is help you've known.
**How to Sell Your Way Through Life**: sell a vision, never lies,
**How to Raise Your Own Salary**: let the lowest wages rise.

**Success Through a Positive Mental Attitude**: train the mind,
**Grow Rich! With Peace of Mind**: don't leave your soul behind.
**Succeed and Grow Rich Through Persuasion**: earn a yes,
Don't make a living turning someone else's life to stress.
**You Can Work Your Own Miracles**—but miracles take time,
A million little acts of trust all stepping into line.

Library for a lobby, laundromat for campaign halls,
Met the mothers, met the mechanics, made a promise: take the calls.
Greene gave maps of motive; Hill gave focus for the fight,
But the people gave me purpose and the courage to be right.

[Bridge — FEMALE, piano only, rising belt]

*What if this? And what if that?*
*What if the kids stay hungry while your name's upon a plaque?*
*What if your mother's out of medicine while your mansion shines in gold?*
*What if you stop saying “we” when the power takes its hold?*

*What if you win the White House but forget the way back home?*
*What if all that power leaves you standing there alone?*

[MALE — half-whisper, no beat]

**If I forget the floor, I don't deserve the stairs.**
**If I start to think I'm king, then I don't belong up there.**
I studied every power play; I don't have to play 'em all.
**Keep asking “what if”—you're the reason I don't fall.**

[Verse 3 — MALE, half- to double-time, strings]

Campaign cars, crowded calendars, cracked concrete to marble floors,
Secret Service, spinning cameras, still I see those basement doors.
Past the portraits, past the pillars, learned to listen when they'd speak,
Kept the names of all my neighbors in my notebook every week.

No magic, no messiah, no miraculous decree,
Just a mandate made of millions saying, “Work for you and me.”
The White House door swung open, but I held it like my past—
**They called us the possessed class; we possessed a voice at last.**

[Final Chorus — BOTH, full choir and strings]

**FEMALE:** *What if this? What if that?*
*What if the next kid needs the ladder that you had?*
**MALE:** **Then we build a thousand ladders, leave the locked doors in the past.**
**No one's born without a future just because they finished last.**

**FEMALE:** *What if power makes a good man bad?*
**MALE:** **Then look me in the eyes and bring me back to where we sat.**
**BOTH:** **From the floor to the front door, hear the thunder, feel the brass—**
**They called us the possessed class; we possessed a voice at last!**

[Outro — piano, silence]

**FEMALE:** *What if they call you king?*
**MALE:** **Tell 'em I was hired—not crowned.**

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# THE POSSESSED CLASS *What If This? What If That?* [Intro — FEMALE, whisper, piano] *What if this? What if that?* *What if a smile's a silver knife behind somebody's back?* [MALE — spoken] **They called us the possessed class.** **I possessed a pen and purpose. That's all I ever had.** [Verse 1 — MALE, triplets, sparse 808] Basement-born, bills blinked red beside the bed, Bosses bought another boat while we were begging to be fed. Pawned my pride, patched my pants, practiced pitches past dawn, Put a pocketful of problems in a song. **The 48 Laws of Power** helped me recognize the game, But I wrote one law myself: never profit off their pain. **The Art of Seduction** showed how stories stir a crowd, But I'd never sell a smile I couldn't stand to say out loud. **The 33 Strategies of War**: protect your peace, **The 50th Law**: face your fear till fear begins to cease. **Mastery**: midnight miles with nobody to applaud, **The Laws of Human Nature**: find the hurt beneath the fraud. **The Daily Laws**: do the daily; let the little lessons stack, See a crooked system clearly, still refuse to rig it back. [Pre-Chorus — FEMALE, ascending piano] *What if this? What if that?* *What if your brilliant blueprint turns your heartbeat into math?* *What if every promise gets a price tag and a plaque?* *What if you make it to the White House and you never make it back?* [Chorus — BOTH, gospel harmonies] **FEMALE:** *What if this? What if that?* *What if the crown's a cage painted like a flag?* **MALE:** **What if the doors are only closed 'cause nobody pushed 'em back?** **I don't need a golden throne; I need a key and a map.** **FEMALE:** *What if a hero gets addicted to the praise?* **MALE:** **Then look me in the eyes and call me out before I change.** **BOTH:** **From the floor to the front door, hear the thunder, feel the brass—** **They called us the possessed class; we possessed a voice at last!** [Verse 2 — MALE, double-time, stabbing piano] **The Law of Success** put a purpose in my palm, **Think and Grow Rich** gave a vision; work is what kept it strong. **Outwitting the Devil** said don't drift, decide, depart, Built a bold-eyed mastermind from the brokenhearted. **The Master Key to Riches**? Can't unlock it on your own, **The Magic Ladder to Success**? Every rung is help you've known. **How to Sell Your Way Through Life**: sell a vision, never lies, **How to Raise Your Own Salary**: let the lowest wages rise. **Success Through a Positive Mental Attitude**: train the mind, **Grow Rich! With Peace of Mind**: don't leave your soul behind. **Succeed and Grow Rich Through Persuasion**: earn a yes, Don't make a living turning someone else's life to stress. **You Can Work Your Own Miracles**—but miracles take time, A million little acts of trust all stepping into line. Library for a lobby, laundromat for campaign halls, Met the mothers, met the mechanics, made a promise: take the calls. Greene gave maps of motive; Hill gave focus for the fight, But the people gave me purpose and the courage to be right. [Bridge — FEMALE, piano only, rising belt] *What if this? And what if that?* *What if the kids stay hungry while your name's upon a plaque?* *What if your mother's out of medicine while your mansion shines in gold?* *What if you stop saying “we” when the power takes its hold?* *What if you win the White House but forget the way back home?* *What if all that power leaves you standing there alone?* [MALE — half-whisper, no beat] **If I forget the floor, I don't deserve the stairs.** **If I start to think I'm king, then I don't belong up there.** I studied every power play; I don't have to play 'em all. **Keep asking “what if”—you're the reason I don't fall.** [Verse 3 — MALE, half- to double-time, strings] Campaign cars, crowded calendars, cracked concrete to marble floors, Secret Service, spinning cameras, still I see those basement doors. Past the portraits, past the pillars, learned to listen when they'd speak, Kept the names of all my neighbors in my notebook every week. No magic, no messiah, no miraculous decree, Just a mandate made of millions saying, “Work for you and me.” The White House door swung open, but I held it like my past— **They called us the possessed class; we possessed a voice at last.** [Final Chorus — BOTH, full choir and strings] **FEMALE:** *What if this? What if that?* *What if the next kid needs the ladder that you had?* **MALE:** **Then we build a thousand ladders, leave the locked doors in the past.** **No one's born without a future just because they finished last.** **FEMALE:** *What if power makes a good man bad?* **MALE:** **Then look me in the eyes and bring me back to where we sat.** **BOTH:** **From the floor to the front door, hear the thunder, feel the brass—** **They called us the possessed class; we possessed a voice at last!** [Outro — piano, silence] **FEMALE:** *What if they call you king?* **MALE:** **Tell 'em I was hired—not crowned.**

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