American Dream

AMERICAN DREAM (REJECTED) Janice Johnson — Candy Colored Coffins [Verse 1 — immediate entrance, low smoky Southern rhythmic rap, heavy bass, muted drop-A guitar] Gas up, tap card, screen says “try again” Laugh so we don’t cry, then we swipe it again Pulled up to the pump, price looks like a phone number Tank sitting empty, but they tell me grind harder Degree on the wall, bills on the table Interest eating dreams while they preach about stable Red tie, blue tie, same suit, same lie Smiling through the scandal while they argue on my timeline Loan servicer calling like a jealous ex I’m just trying to buy groceries, they want a check Got a full-time job and a part-time prayer And a landlord raising rent like he’s selling me air [Pre-Chorus — Janice shifts from rap to gritty melody, drums building] Scroll, spend, tap again Still broke, still pretend Plastic life that we swipe on repeat Tell me who’s getting rich off me? [Chorus — huge melodic grunge-metal hook, distorted guitars, half-time drums] OH DAMN, I FORGOT! We’re just feeling the sting of the American Dream! Vacant malls selling empty hope Clearance prices on jeans and soap OH DAMN, I FORGOT! We’re all paying for somebody else’s scheme! They keep selling us the American Dream But we don’t owe the salesman a damn thing! [Post-Chorus — gang vocals, syncopated guitar stops] BUY IT! BREAK IT! WORK UNTIL YOU MAKE IT! SWIPE IT! SIGN IT! WHO THE HELL DESIGNED IT? [Verse 2 — faster Southern rap cadence, distorted slide guitar answering] She’s singing from the cubicle, fluorescent halo Boss says “we’re a family” till the next round of payroll Thoughts and prayers on a bumper by the chapel While a lobby full of money helps them write the new shackles Left side, right side, same aisle, same buyers Arguing on channels owned by the same choir We fight over colors on a waving sheet While they raise every fee and call it free Got a yard sign planted in a rented yard And a credit score deciding if I get another card They call it opportunity, call it climbing the hill But the ladder’s got a tollbooth and they’re sending me the bill [Pre-Chorus — building melodic tension, bass drops out for final line] Click, share, take a stand From the couch, phone in hand Got a yard sign but I can’t pay the heat Tell me who’s getting rich off me? [Chorus — massive guitars, female belt, gang vocal responses] OH DAMN, I FORGOT! We’re just feeling the sting of the American Dream! Vacant malls selling empty hope Clearance prices on jeans and soap OH DAMN, I FORGOT! We’re all paying for somebody else’s scheme! They keep selling us the American Dream But we don’t owe the salesman a damn thing! [Verse 3 — Iran verse, darker rhythmic delivery, guitars chugging in syncopation] Iran on the news, oil climbing on the screen Another map of missiles, another talking head screaming They talk about strategy, power and pride I’m counting what a gallon costs to get to work tonight War drums beating in a room with a view Somebody makes a fortune when the headlines turn blue They call it national interest, draw another line But the interest on my credit card is eating me alive Groceries up, rent up, insurance too Every bill gets a raise before the workers do They say we’re all in this together, that’s a hell of a claim When the people making choices never shoulder the same [Breakdown — crushing stop-start guitar riff, heavy industrial drums, gang shouts] WHO PAYS? WE PAY! WHO WINS? THEY WIN! WHO WORKS? WE DO! WHO GETS THE BILL? WE DO! [Bridge — instruments collapse to sub-bass, distorted acoustic slide, half-whispered Janice vocal] Swipe it, sign it Pray the bank don’t mind it Freedom on a billboard Lease it if you find it We pledge, we post We argue, we roast But the price at the pump Hits harder than the polls [Janice — low, deliberate, almost spoken] I don’t hate my country I hate what they sell in its name There’s a difference between loving your home And believing everybody who claims it [Final Chorus — explosive guitars, soaring female vocal, shouted gang harmonies] OH DAMN, I FORGOT! We’re just feeling the sting of the American Dream! Vacant malls selling empty hope Clearance prices on jeans and soap OH DAMN, I FORGOT! We’re all paying for somebody else’s scheme! They keep selling us the American Dream But we don’t owe the salesman a damn thing! [Final refrain — rhythmic stops, Janice and gang vocals] OH DAMN, I FORGOT! OH DAMN, I FORGOT! They keep selling us the American Dream BUT WE DON’T OWE THE SALESMAN A DAMN THING! [Hard stop — no outro]