THE TUNNELS Inspired by a Dream - 2026 J.G. Argo [INTRO] Some people believe dreams have something to say Others believe it's just nonsense anyway But some dreams don't disappear when you wake Some dreams leave a door open [VERSE 1] I woke up in my childhood house Mama said, "A pastor's at the door" Then the next thing I knew, we were by the churchyard Underneath an evening sky There were tunnels made of steel Crossing roads and running high He said, "They're only for the hunting" Then something strange he asked, "Do you think a wheelchair fits Through a tunnel built this way?" [VERSE 2] I saw an outdoor wood stove They had it burning by the wall There were children laying wire Grown men building tunnels small Four feet high and four feet wide Steel around and wire outside Steel ribs running side to side No one walked through those narrow ways You couldn't walk, you couldn't stand You had to crawl to reach their promised land [CHORUS] You couldn't walk, you couldn't stand You had to crawl to reach their promised land Every road and every way you don't stand Led you where somebody else had planned [VERSE 3] The pastor asked me what my sister did I told him where she worked He smiled at me like he knew something And somehow that smile made it worse I looked around and finally saw it Every tunnel had a plan Branching out in every direction Like they'd been inside my head Over highways, across the roads Everywhere the tunnels ran And I finally understood They were built to choose for you [VERSE 4] Two women tried to catch my attention "Not interested, I'm a married man" Wasn't looking for another way in Just trying to find my way back home again I started looking for the way back Wondering how I'd gotten there I crawled until the tunnel opened Thought I'd finally made it through Then I saw the pastor's wife carrying water And she smiled like she knew me too [VERSE 5] She said, "We catch the rainwater Then we run it through the church And let it flow all through the house" I turned to find the exit But every hallway looked the same Ended up in the sanctuary There were hundreds of people sitting Not a single one looked back I stood upon a balcony Looking for a way to leave When the pastor looked up and smiled Like he'd been waiting there for me [BRIDGE] He said, "How's college treating you?" I said, "I'm not in college." Startled, he started talking Like the truth was his to change Said he'd been sick, said he'd forgotten Like nothing strange had happened at all And somewhere outside in the distance I could hear them building the damn thing again [REVEAL] Somewhere above the highway I could hear the wire being pulled Four feet high and four feet wide A maze that never seemed to end I finally knew what they were hunting It wasn't something in the trees They weren't made for hunting animals They were made for finding you and me They weren't looking for the lost They were looking for the willing Someone who would crawl inside And build the cage from within But something changed when I saw it I couldn't unsee what I'd seen You can follow every road they give you Till you realize what they mean [PRE-FINAL] They said I wasn't meant to be a stranger I was supposed to fit inside But once you see the wire around you You can't pretend it's open sky They can hunt for someone willing But they won't make me crawl this time [FINAL CHORUS] I won't kneel, I won't crawl I don't want their fake promises at all You can build your tunnels to the sky But every wall comes down when we ask why I won't bow, I won't bend I won't follow roads that tell me where they end You can preach your promised land But the truth gets dangerous when people learn to stand We won't kneel, we won't crawl We don't need your promises at all When the people see the wire The wire starts to fall When the people see the cage The cage can't hold them all When the people stop believing— [BRIEF SILENCE] THE WHOLE FUCKING SYSTEM STARTS TO FALL [FINAL BREAK] We won't kneel. We won't crawl. We will stand. And watch it fall. [OUTRO] I woke up before I made it home Morning coming through the blinds But I could still see those tunnels Stretching somewhere in my mind Four feet high and four feet wide Steel ribs running side to side And somewhere beyond the wire Someone else was crawling inside I was only there to help That's what I told myself I was only there to help Till I saw the tunnels for myself Once you see the wire around you You can't pretend it's open sky.
