I Quit the American Dream [Verse 1] They told me get a job, buy a house, Put a little white fence all around, Work your whole damn life for a piece of ground, Keep your head up, never slow down. Get a truck, get a loan, get a credit score, Work twice as hard just to owe some more, I kept chasing what they said I need, Trying to live that American Dream. [Pre-Chorus] But nobody told me what it costs, How much of yourself gets lost, When you’re running toward a finish line Somebody else drew for your life. [Chorus] So I’m done trying to live the American Dream, It ain’t ever looked much like a dream to me. I’ve worked, I’ve hurt, I’ve begged, I’ve bled, Just trying to keep my damn head ahead. If success means dying just to say I survived, Then maybe I’ve been chasing the wrong damn life. I thought that’s what I was supposed to be, But I’m done trying to live the American Dream. [Verse 2] They say work hard and you’ll get ahead, Funny how the bills get there first instead. One bad year, one doctor’s call, And you find out how quick that dream can fall. I’ve watched the numbers climb while my body wore down, Still trying like hell not to let anybody down. But what’s the prize if I make it through And lose every piece of me trying to? [Pre-Chorus] Maybe winning ain’t a bigger check, Maybe living ain’t working yourself to death. Maybe enough ain’t something you buy, Maybe enough is getting your life back tonight. [Chorus] So I’m done trying to live the American Dream, It ain’t ever looked much like a dream to me. I’ve worked, I’ve hurt, I’ve begged, I’ve bled, Just trying to keep my damn head ahead. If success means dying just to say I survived, Then maybe I’ve been chasing the wrong damn life. I thought that’s what I was supposed to be, But I’m done trying to live the American Dream. [Bridge] Give me an old truck and somewhere to breathe, A little dirt underneath my feet. Give me my boy and a porch-light glow, A few good people who don’t let go. I don’t need rich, I don’t need renowned, Don’t need another damn payment dragging me down. If I wake up tomorrow and the people I love Still know that I love ‘em, that’s enough. [Breakdown] Maybe the dream ain’t dead. Maybe it was never mine. Maybe I spent half my life Trying to live somebody else’s idea of mine. [Final Chorus] Yeah, I’m done trying to live the American Dream, I’m gonna build something that belongs to me. It might not shine, it might not sell, Might not impress anybody else. But I’ll measure my wealth by the days I’m alive, And the people beside me when I close my eyes. I finally know what I want to be: Not their version of successful, Just finally free. Yeah, I thought that’s what I was supposed to chase… Turns out, I just wanted a life worth living anyway. [Outro] Keep the white fence. Keep the big machine. I’m done killing myself For somebody else’s dream.
