[Worked Past Living] [Original Lyrics by M.J. (NO AI LYRICS)] [© Copyright 2026: https://suno.com/@westcoastbrothersstrange] [Support/Artwork: R.C.E.] [Audio/vocals by SunoAI: https://www.suno.com] [Artist note: This song is about how people need a good work/life balance and what can happen if that balance is tipped the wrong way.] [Verse 1] He woke before the daylight, because he was needed first. Caffeine by the keyboard. Another day without rest. He made all his plans in pencil. They could be erased at any time. Weekends were just a dream. Evenings were rarely his. [Interlude 1] They called him indispensable, because he never let them down. When he swore he’d reached his limit, they said there was no one else. [Chorus 1] Must be nice to have a life. Must be nice to have the time. Must be nice to go somewhere, and leave work behind. Maybe after the deadlines. Maybe after it’s over. He kept saving all his time for later. But "later" became "never", and he worked past living. [Verse 2] His friends finally stopped asking. They already knew the answer. He cashed out vacation days to keep a home he barely saw. He kept saying "Next year", as one blurred into the next. He lost touch with those he loved, and the life he had outside. [Interlude 2] Loyalty became obligation. Insurance became survival. He was indispensable, yet too afraid to walk away. [Chorus 2] Must be nice to take a trip. Must be nice to make a plan. Must be nice to just let it ring, and not care what happens. Must be nice to come home tired, from something you chose to do. He kept waiting to get his life back, and he worked past living. [Bridge] We were meant to know daylight, not just filtered through glass. To feel the breeze on our skin. To dig our toes into the sand. To enjoy the simple things, without paying for the time. To come home with enough left for whoever was still there. [Verse 3] They woke him before the alarm. He was back long before dawn. He thought he could catch up. He thought he could get ahead. He answered what he could. He typed in one last thing: "I'm sorry I let you down." "Won't happen again." [Interlude 3] But then it all caught up with him. He lowered his head to the desk. For a moment they thought he was sleeping. They'd seen him that tired before. [Final Chorus] Must be nice to have a life. Must be nice to make it home. Must be great to finally rest, with nothing left to answer. He was indispensable right up 'til the end. Before the day was over, the work went to someone else. Someone cleared his desk. Someone answered his line. And what could not wait, waited for someone else. [Outro] He gave them his life... and worked past living. "Worked Past Living"
