Verse 1 They said get up early They said stay late Shake the right hands Keep your fucking mouth straight Put a little money back Don’t buy what you can’t afford Give the company your best years They’ll remember what they’re for So I punched that clock Till my knuckles turned white Missed dinners, missed birthdays Worked straight through the night Twenty years of “good job” And “we’re all family here” Funny how that family disappears When the numbers have a bad year Pre-Chorus I didn’t need a mansion Didn’t need my name in lights I just wanted what you promised If I did this fucking right Chorus I DID EVERYTHING RIGHT SO WHY THE FUCK AM I LOSING? I gave you my days I gave you my nights I gave you the best damn years of my life I DID EVERYTHING RIGHT EVERY GODDAMN THING YOU SAID Kept my nose down Paid what I owed Walked every mile of your goddamn road So tell me why I’m working twice as hard JUST TO FUCKING FALL BEHIND INSTEAD Verse 2 Now the grocery cart’s lighter But the receipt’s twice as long The paycheck hits on Friday By Saturday it’s fucking gone Insurance wants another hundred Power wants another ten The landlord found a reason To raise the fucking rent again They tell me I should budget Maybe cut a luxury or two Brother, I ain’t bought a luxury Since nineteen-ninety-fucking-who-knows-when And some smiling bastard tells me There’s never been a better time Well, come stand here in my kitchen And make these fucking numbers rhyme Pre-Chorus I don’t need your pity I don’t need another line Just quit telling me I’m winning While I’m watching myself slide Chorus I DID EVERYTHING RIGHT SO WHY THE FUCK AM I LOSING? I gave you my days I gave you my nights I gave you the best damn years of my life I DID EVERYTHING RIGHT EVERY GODDAMN THING YOU SAID Kept my nose down Paid what I owed Walked every mile of your goddamn road So tell me why I’m working twice as hard JUST TO FUCKING FALL BEHIND INSTEAD Bridge The machinery stops. One dry guitar. Work hard. Keep your head down. Don’t complain. Save your money. Be responsible. Be grateful. Your day will come. Silence. Yeah? I’m forty-five fucking years old. When? Bass pulse begins. I sold you Mondays. I sold you Christmases. I sold you mornings I can’t fucking get back. I sold you pieces of a life I didn’t even know were valuable Until they were gone. And every goddamn year You moved the finish line… Then looked me in the eye And told me— RUN FASTER. Breakdown Full band detonates. WORK HARDER! (Still behind!) STAY LATER! (Still behind!) SAVE MORE! (Still behind!) SPEND LESS! (Still behind!) BE GRATEFUL! (FOR FUCKING WHAT?) Final Chorus I DID EVERYTHING RIGHT AND I’M STILL FUCKING LOSING I gave you my days I gave you my nights I gave you the best damn years of my life I DID EVERYTHING RIGHT EVERY GODDAMN THING YOU SAID I worked I saved I paid I stayed And somehow every year There was a little fucking less left I DID EVERYTHING RIGHT So don’t stand there And tell me That I didn’t fucking try Don’t sell me one more promise About some better by-and-by I don’t want another lecture I don’t want another lie I JUST WANT TO KNOW WHY DOING EVERYTHING RIGHT AIN’T ENOUGH TO FUCKING GET BY Outro Work hard. Keep your head down. Don’t complain. Your day will come. Well, motherfucker… I’m still waiting.
