(Intro) Free healthcare! Free shelter! Free food! Sanctuary! Sounds pretty good... Until somebody asks— WHO PAYS? (Verse 1) Raise the taxes, raise the fees, Regulate whatever breathes. Make it harder every year For the ones who built a business here. Families pack, companies run, Take their jobs and tax base when they're gone. Less comes in while spending climbs— Guess who's getting taxed next time? (Pre-Chorus) Tax 'em more! THEY LEAVE! Lose the cash! WE NEED! Promise more! WHO PAYS?! Round and round we go again! (Chorus) WHO PAYS?! WHO PAYS?! Nothing fucking comes for free! Somebody worked for every dollar Politicians guarantee! FREE! FREE! FREE! That's what the billboard says! But everything they're giving out Has a bill somebody gets! Raise the tax! Watch 'em leave! Raise it on the ones who stay! When everybody's promised everything— WHO THE FUCK IS LEFT TO PAY?! (Verse 2) Cross the border, hear the deal: Shelter, services, another meal. Sanctuary, come on in— Why the hell not take the win? If I had kids and nothing there, And someone said there's something here, I'd probably make that journey too— That's exactly what people do. Don't blame the guy who took the deal, He's trying to change the hand he feels. The question isn't why he came— WHO BUILT THE INCENTIVE INTO THE GAME?! (Chorus) WHO PAYS?! WHO PAYS?! Nothing fucking comes for free! Free shelter! Free programs! All brought to you by you and me! Call it compassion, call it nice, But somebody always pays the price. Raise the tax! Watch 'em leave! WHO THE FUCK IS LEFT TO PAY?! (Verse 3) Now the boss gets cheaper hands, More workers waiting on demand. Talk about the working class While they compete for every task. Everybody needs a room, But housing doesn't magically bloom. More demand against supply, Rent goes up—they wonder why. Make too much for any aid, Not enough to feel okay. Caught between both sides somehow— JUST RICH ENOUGH TO PAY IT NOW! (Pre-Chorus) Employer wins! CHEAPER HANDS! Landlord wins! MORE DEMAND! Government spends! SEND THE BILL! Working guy? PAY IT STILL! (Verse 4) Then comes the population count, Every resident adds amount. People leave and states lose weight, Population helps apportion states. Taxpayers move, the numbers fall, But population matters after all. More residents can slow that slide— And power's hard to put aside. Follow the promise! FOLLOW THE CASH! Follow the policy! FOLLOW THE MATH! Don't kick down— LOOK UP! Who's writing every fucking check? (Bridge) This ain't hate for someone poor Who walked through an open door. This ain't rage at someone trying To build themselves a better life. I'd take the deal if offered too— That's what rational people do. THE PEOPLE TAKING THE OFFER AREN'T THE ONES WRITING THE RULES! Look at the bosses wanting labor! Look at politicians seeking favor! Look at everyone benefiting— FOLLOW THE MONEY! FOLLOW THE COUNT! (Breakdown) TAX 'EM! THEY LEAVE! SPEND IT! WE PAY! RAISE IT! MORE LEAVE! PROMISE MORE! WHO PAYS?! FREE HOUSING! WHO PAYS?! FREE HEALTHCARE! WHO PAYS?! FREE FOOD! WHO PAYS?! CHEAP LABOR! WHO WINS?! MORE PEOPLE IN THE COUNT! WHO WINS?! THE PEOPLE WRITING THE RULES NEVER SEEM TO FUCKING LOSE! (Verse 5) You can't lose the ones who pay And promise something new each day. Tax who's left to fund the plan— Till they leave just like the last man. Every cycle takes some more, Another business shuts its door. You can promise heaven every day— BUT SOMEBODY ALWAYS HAS TO PAY! (Final Chorus) WHO PAYS?! WHO PAYS?! Nothing fucking comes for free! Every benefit has somebody Working somewhere underneath! FREE! FREE! FREE! Keep screaming it all day! Calling something free Don't make the fucking cost go away! Tax the job! Tax the home! Tax whoever hasn't gone! Round and round Until one day There ain't enough left in the tray— When everybody gets a free ride... WHO THE FUCK IS LEFT TO PAY?! (Outro) Don't blame the man For taking the deal. Blame the people Who made the deal... With money That wasn't theirs. Free everything... Until nobody's left To pay for anything.
