[Intro] [Muted electric guitar, steady kick drum; conversational female alto] Gas and groceries cost more The rent went up again So I pulled out plastic Just to make it till the end [Verse 1] [Driving bass enters; restrained frustration] I used to charge a little When the month got tight Just enough to get us through Till payday came in sight Now the paycheck disappears Before it even lands And every dollar’s spoken for Before it hits my hands The electric bill is waiting Car insurance got raised The price tag on the chicken Makes me laugh these days So I swipe another card And tell myself it’s fine But I’m getting real nervous About the balance line [Pre-Chorus] [Drums build; vocal becomes more urgent] We’re not buying fancy things We’re just trying to get by So tell me what we’re supposed to do When the credit runs dry? [Chorus] [Big anthemic chorus; layered harmonies] What happens when it’s maxed out? When there’s nothing left to swipe? When the card says “No more” But the bills still say “Pay tonight” What happens when the safety net Is hanging by a thread? When you’re borrowing from tomorrow Just to buy today’s bread? Yeah, we’re charging up the future Just to make it through the now But what the hell are we gonna do When it’s all maxed out? [Verse 2] [Full band; sharper rhythm guitar] They say interest rates are improving Like that changes what we pay Yeah, the rate might be slowing But the prices stay that way And “inflation’s going lower” Doesn’t mean the rent came down Or the grocery cart got cheaper Or there’s money left around So we juggle one card To pay another card Move a little money here And pray it isn’t hard Minimum due Minimum wage Maximum stress And every month I’m wondering How much more can I stretch? [Pre-Chorus] [Pull back briefly; vocal building with frustration] We’re not living large We’re just trying to survive But you can’t keep borrowing From the future just to stay alive [Chorus] [Full force; gang-style backing vocals] What happens when it’s maxed out? When there’s nothing left to swipe? When the card says “No more” But the bills still say “Pay tonight” What happens when the safety net Is hanging by a thread? When you’re borrowing from tomorrow Just to buy today’s bread? Yeah, we’re charging up the future Just to make it through the now But what the hell are we gonna do When it’s all maxed out? [Bridge] [Drop to bass, kick, and vocal; slow emotional build] Maybe we’re not irresponsible Maybe we’re just squeezed Maybe “cutting back” don’t work When you’ve already cut what you need You can’t budget your way Out of numbers that don’t bend And you can’t keep calling it temporary When the problem never ends [Instrumental Break] [Electric guitar; drums gradually build] [Final Chorus] [Explosive; layered female harmonies] What happens when it’s maxed out? When the last card’s declined? When there’s nothing left to borrow And we’re running out of time? What happens when the safety net Finally hits the floor? When surviving costs so much You can’t survive anymore? We’re charging up the future Just to make it through today And somebody better answer ’Cause we’re running out of ways to pay [Final Line] [Band cuts suddenly; dry vocal] What the hell are we gonna do When it’s all maxed out?
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