THIS ISN’T WORKING [Intro — Spoken, low and dry] “Nobody in Oregon would say let’s keep doing exactly what we’ve been doing.” Good. Because this ain’t working. [Verse 1] Same street. Same mess. Same speech in a different dress. Same promise. Same plan. Same politician saying, “Trust me, I can.” Emergency declared, three years on, tell me exactly what emergency’s gone? Trash on the sidewalk, foil in the door, everybody’s heard this speech before. You said move us forward, you said clean it up, said enforce the laws, said enough is enough. So I got one question before we applaud: Where are the results we were promised we’d got? [Pre-Chorus] Don’t give me spin. Don’t give me blame. Don’t change the subject, don’t change the name. Red team. Blue team. Same damn street. I’m looking for results underneath my feet. [Chorus] We need change, ’cause this isn’t working. People are tired, people are hurting. Same old promises wrapped up new, and everybody’s asking: What did you do? We need change, not another campaign line. You said we can’t keep doing the same thing every time. Well Tina, on that one thing— we agree. [Verse 2] “Public safety.” “Treatment beds.” “Get folks help.” That’s what you said. Sounds real good when the cameras roll, but slogans don’t save a neighborhood’s soul. You said clean up the damn trash. Okay then. How long exactly are we supposed to ask? How many studies? How many plans? How many committees with folded hands? People want treatment. People want law. People want leaders who notice what they saw. Not another headline saying things improved, while everybody downtown asks, Improved for who? [Chorus] We need change, ’cause this isn’t working. People are tired, people are hurting. Same old promises wrapped up new, and everybody’s asking: What did you do? We need change, not another campaign line. You said we can’t keep doing the same thing every time. Well Tina, on that one thing— we agree. [Funk Breakdown] Don’t tell me red. Don’t tell me blue. Tell me what the hell you’re gonna do. You wanted the office. You wanted the chair. Now showing results seems pretty damn fair. No more pointing. No more spin. Tell me when the fixing actually begins. [Half-Time Spoken Section] You said: “Nobody in Oregon would say let’s keep doing exactly what we’ve been doing.” Exactly. So stop doing it. [Final Chorus] We need change, ’cause this isn’t working. People are watching, people are learning. You can blame yesterday all that you choose, but sooner or later the record is yours too. We need change, and Oregon knows it. Don’t tell us it’s better— show it. You said nobody wants more of the same. Well Tina— maybe that’s the one thing we can agree on today. [Outro — Spoken over bass groove] No red-state takeover. No blue-state excuse. No more passing the blame. Just results. You said move us forward. Okay. Get the fuck out and let change begin!
