CLOCKED IN [INTRO — sparse clean guitar, faint workplace ambience, tired intimate female vocal] I miss when life was simple Less pressure Even when we had no treasure Somehow, we’d be okay for sure [small pause / bittersweet] Funny… I couldn’t wait to grow up. [VERSE 1 — tight bass groove, muted guitar, minimal electronic beat; conversational and exhausted] Now we’re stuck inside the chain My brain’s working overtime again All you do is nod, obey Even when you’re on the borderline [drums gradually enter] Clock in Clock out Go home Pass out Wake up Do it again [brief instrumental cut] When did living Turn into this? [PRE-CHORUS — bass rises, guitars gradually open; vocal becomes frustrated] They say we’re lazy “You’ve got it easy” [short sarcastic laugh] Am I crazy? Or maybe the glass Is pouring over now I’ve been holding everything But there’s nowhere left To put it down [beat cuts] [CHORUS — huge modern alt-rock guitars, live drums, emotional raspy belt] THIS IS NOT WHAT I SIGNED UP FOR All I can do Is breathe and sigh Trade another piece of me Just to make it through the night [driving rhythm] Clocked in Checked out Tell me, what’s all this for? ’Cause this is not What I signed up for [VERSE 2 — bass-heavy groove, electronic percussion, rhythmic vocal] I wonder why some people have All the things I never had Is this envy? [small pause] Maybe. Then why does wanting something better Have to make me feel so bad? I watch somebody living The life I’m working toward While I’m counting every hour Wondering what I can afford [PRE-CHORUS 2 — increasingly tense, layered backing vocals] They say we’re lucky “You should be grateful” I know… But gratitude doesn’t make The weight less painful And I’m tired of pretending That surviving Feels the same as being alive [CHORUS — bigger guitars, stronger drums, stacked backing vocals] THIS IS NOT WHAT I SIGNED UP FOR All I can do Is breathe and sigh Trade another piece of me Just to make it through the night Clocked in Checked out Tell me, what’s all this for? ’Cause this is not What I signed up for [BRIDGE — dark bass pulse, drums strip away; theatrical sarcastic delivery] Why do we have to be Stuck inside this jail? [bright fake-positive voice] “Work hard!” “Dream big!” “Someday you’ll prevail!” [distorted guitar enters] ALL HAIL! Here’s your reward— [everything cuts] A handful of crumbs And another shift tomorrow. [deadpan whisper] …See you at nine. [FINAL CHORUS — explosive full band, huge guitars and drums, exhausted emotional vocal] THIS IS NOT WHAT I SIGNED UP FOR But tomorrow I’ll be there on time Another morning Another uniform Another piece of borrowed life [stacked vocals] CLOCKED IN CHECKED OUT Still wondering what it’s for [biggest raspy belt] NO— THIS IS NOT WHAT I SIGNED UP FOR! [OUTRO — instruments abruptly disappear; alarm clock ambience] [exhausted whisper] Clock in. Clock out. Go home. Pass out. [short silence] [alarm rings] …again? [hard cut]
