“STATIC IN THE THROAT” [Verse 1] I wake up tired of being brave, Coffee tastes like minimum wage, Every screen is screaming “HUSTLE” Every soul’s a cracked rib cage. We’re stacking dreams like overdue bills, Calling it “character,” calling it “grit,” But the ladder’s greased and the sky’s on fire And they still ask why we’re pissed. [Pre-Chorus] Hands shaking, teeth grinding, Heart beating like a protest drum, They say “calm down, be patient,” But patience never paid my rent. [Chorus] I’M CHOKING ON THE NOISE OF A WORLD THAT WON’T LISTEN WE’RE SCREAMING INTO ALGORITHMS PRAYING TO BE SEEN RUNNING FULL SPEED IN A MAZE MADE OF PROMISES EVERYBODY BLEEDING TRYING TO BREAK THE MACHINE [Verse 2] Everyone’s got a side hustle halo, Everyone’s drowning real polite, Smiles stapled on like name tags, “Living the dream” every night. They sell hope in monthly payments, Fear comes free with every breath, And success is a moving target Held by someone who’s never missed. [Pre-Chorus] We’re told “adapt or disappear,” So we bend till bones complain, If this is what winning looks like Why does it hurt like losing everything? [Chorus] I’M CHOKING ON THE NOISE OF A WORLD THAT WON’T LISTEN WE’RE SCREAMING INTO ALGORITHMS PRAYING TO BE SEEN RUNNING FULL SPEED IN A MAZE MADE OF PROMISES EVERYBODY BLEEDING TRYING TO BREAK THE MACHINE [Bridge – half-spoken, breathless] I don’t need a throne, I need a fucking minute. I don’t need your branding tips, I need a way to live in it. We were promised stars, Got fluorescent cages, Told “work harder, dream bigger” While they auction off the ages. [Breakdown] Clench your fists—feel that? That’s not weakness, that’s pressure. That’s a million cracked voices Hitting the same note together. [Final Chorus – faster, louder] WE’RE CHOKING ON THE NOISE BUT WE’RE DONE WITH THE SILENCE IF THE WORLD WON’T MAKE ROOM WE’LL RIP OUT THE WALLS FULL SPEED, NO APOLOGIES BUILT FROM COLLISIONS EVERYBODY STRUGGLING BUT WE’RE BREAKING THE MACHINE [Outro] This isn’t failure— It’s friction. And friction makes fire.
