Intro] ((detuned church bell melody, vinyl crackle, distant police sirens)) ((slow distorted 808 pulse, heavy breathing layered underneath)) Gas station coffee and a pistol in the glovebox American flags hanging faded at the liquor spot ⸻ [Verse 1] Daddy worked overtime till his back turned steel gray ((low monotone delivery, dead-eyed cadence)) Still lost the house when the bank came anyway Mama dancing drunk with cigarettes in the sink light ((reverb-heavy snare, cold synth drone underneath)) Said the dream got repossessed sometime around midnight Now everybody flexing money they ain’t really got Empty malls, boarded churches, another corner shot ((808 slides grow more aggressive)) Kids learn survival before they ever learn love Watching billionaires smile from screens hanging above ⸻ [Pre-Chorus] And the freeway glow look holy in the rain ((melodic vocal layer enters quietly)) But every exit sign still whisper my name No heaven in the suburbs No peace in the checks ((brief beat dropout before hook)) Just debt collectors calling and anxiety sex ⸻ [Chorus] We grew up dirty under beautiful lies ((anthemic melodic hook, layered gang vocals)) Dreaming big while the whole city died Red white blue still bleeding through the night ((haunted bell melody becomes louder)) Everybody chasing freedom just to barely survive ⸻ [Verse 2] Crack smoke drifting through the laundromat air Old men scratching lottery tickets like salvation there ((tight hi-hat triplets, bass rumble deepened)) Girl dancing topless just to pay tuition loans Boy selling fentanyl off two shattered phones And I still hear politicians talking clean on TV While my cousin doing years for a half-ounce felony ((vocal distortion added on final words)) Whole generation medicated just to fall asleep American dream turned nightmare by the end of the week ⸻ [Bridge] ((beat strips away to ambient bells and choir pad)) Nobody told us survival would feel this lonely Nobody told us the winners were chosen slowly ((whispered ad-libs panned left and right)) Smile for the cameras Hide all the rage Everybody trapped inside a minimum wage cage ⸻ [Final Chorus] We grew up dirty under beautiful lies ((huge distorted 808s, emotional melodic vocals)) Still throwing cash while the future dies Red white blue falling apart in the light ((stacked harmonies, police sirens return faintly)) Everybody chasing heaven in a city with no sky ⸻ [Outro] ((instrumental fades to bell melody and rain ambience)) Neon cross glowing outside the motel sign ((single heartbeat kick remains alone)) Nobody rich enough to buy back time.
