[Verse 1 — clipped, practical] I went to open up an account They ran my name and turned the screen “Sorry, we can’t take you right now” Like I was asking for a limousine The last one overdrafted Then the last one closed the door Now every bank I try remembers What I can’t afford to fix anymore I need somewhere to put the money I need money coming in I need a place that’ll pay me I need a place to keep it in [Pre-Chorus] I’ve been working I’ve been working I’ve been working all these years [Chorus] I gave my time away I gave my hands away I gave the hours I needed To get myself away No paycheck, no paper trail No proof that I can pay I helped hold up the whole damn world And watched my own life cave [Verse 2 — gathering speed] The collections want the money That I never got to keep They’re still there on the record While the promises are cheap I try to find a place to live They ask what I make a year I tell them what I’ve done for people It disappears right there Bad credit No income No account to start again I try to get a credit card They say, “We can’t extend” [Pre-Chorus] I’ve been working I’ve been working Why’s there nothing I can show? [Chorus] I gave my time away I gave my hands away I gave the hours I needed To get myself away No paycheck, no paper trail No proof that I can pay I helped hold up the whole damn world And watched my own life cave [Verse 3 — the theft enters] Then somebody took my name And somebody took my things I’m sorting through the damage While the phone keeps ringing Prove it Report it Write it down Wait in line Hold your ground I’m trying to get my life back But recovery takes time And time is what I gave away For work that wasn’t mine [Bridge — controlled, dawning] The application asks for income The bank asks where I’ve been The credit card wants proof I can pay them back again The landlord sees the numbers The landlord doesn’t see The years I spent making things work For everybody but me [Breakdown — almost spoken] I was trying to help. I was trying to matter. I was trying to build something That would bring me along— But the rent still came. And the car still needed gas. And the work still needed doing. And I kept saying yes. [Finale — erratic, accelerating] No account— No deposit— No deposit— No account— Bad credit— Collections— No paycheck— No place— Denied. Denied. Try again. Try again. They took my name— They took my things— I filed the forms— I did everything— I did the work! I did the work! I did the work and where is it? Where’s the money? Where’s the proof? Where’s the key? Where’s the room? I’m trying to move— I’m trying to move— I’m trying to— [Beat drops out] Fuck me. What have I done to myself? [Outro — breathless, breaking] I worked. I worked. I worked— Why can’t I show it? Why can’t I keep it? Why can’t I get out? What have I done to myself?
