[Verse 1] Detroit once sang in pistons and steel, Motown put hearty beat on the wheel, We built the automobile like a dream, Then paved over everything between. We could've laid rails through every town, Let every child ride the whole world around, But we chose the highway, the parking lot, And called it freedom when it wasn't. [Pre-Chorus] Now old monsters sit counting cold miles, Selling us cages with gas fueled smiles, They snack on young wings before they can fly, Then wonder why caged birds no longer try. [Chorus] Oh oh, America, what a mess you became! kingdom of rusted engines, afraid of errant word, Proud talked every road would run straight and fast, Then only built a machine for erasing prideful past. We should've built trains, we should've opened skies, Instead built paper walls with weepy American eyes, proud soil beneath all must read tired noise, Pan's fountain still rises, launching youthful joy. [Verse 2] Pan Fryer, kitchen kind cooking soul, never a man for frying any mind. Pan Fryer true fountain, pump buried deep, Lifting up souls from delusion they steep. Dozens arisen on this hallowed drive, Not knowing til moment their world came alive. A lot more altitude, a little more light, A stranger to themselves in the public sight. [Verse 3] Some see panicked chickens flapping fear, few project challenged eagles suddenly near, But the one being launched gets the whole strange view, Every face looking up sharing something true. Every eye soul flash mirror, every mouth chew reflection, Every cheer and rejection for fresh souls future introspection. You can't understand what the crowd really means Till many many times lifted above their screens. [Pre-Chorus] It wasn't reckless, just retiring the whole game, He stayed close enough to answer emergent flame. YET far enough back that their wings could unfold, Far enough away for each person to grow bold. [Chorus] Oh oh, America, what a mess you became! kingdom of rusted engines, afraid of errant word, Proud talked every road would run straight and fast, Then only built a machine for erasing prideful past. We should've built trains, we should've opened skies, Instead built paper walls with weepy American eyes, proud soil beneath all must read tired noise, Pan's fountain still rises, launching youthful joy. [Verse 4] unsuspecting youth might panic, anxiety true, Sudden vibe amplified, perspective suddenly askew. Not crowned divine savior, not branded king of any, Just given enough time in flight to discover their wings. Pan Fryer watched from below with careful restraint, Letting them stumble without altering fate. Because lifting a person is more than the rise, It's knowing when to hold tight and when to let them fly. [Bridge] Let them see (for themselves) every face below, Every skeptic, every friend, every stranger come to know. feel terrible terror, wonder, free willed weight, growth is becoming enormous before they're prepared. expect them to come back different, (out of control) they might come back scarred, no longer afraid to relate why becoming is hard. (sharing control) The fountain doesn't promise you'll never fall— It informs you how you can rise, in ways you don't know at all. [Verse 5] Pan Fryer the grateful, shoulder carrying their blame, Bears their cruelty without answering in flame. everyone in some ways deserves soul to be saved, Pan Fryer tries to remember the holistic way. wounds scar warnings, scars scream maps, failures forged bridges while old world collapses. Creator carries tomorrow in yesterday's heavy rain, 1000 years of kids who won't suffer the same. [Final Chorus] Oh oh, America, prayers for your soul kingdom rebuilding engines, proud of errant word, Silence each road so race run straight and fast, debate precise machine to prideful push past. We should've built trains, admit at least that to try, It has to be remade for young American eyes, proud soil beneath all must read fertile ploys, Pan's fountain still rises, launching the next youthful joy. [Outro] Pan Fryer force fill the fountain, Ethical Engine runs deep. buoyant bill for the sleeping, the era won't sleep. chickens, eagles— dinosaurs! The launched one sees all And somewhere below, With his hands off the wings, He stays close enough pondering impossible things. Pan Fryer was grateful. Pan Fryer flame forever. He consumes their cruelty So unprepared others don't carry the same.
