[Verse 1] I used to love the hard part Late nights, broken code Wrestling with the problem Just to see if I could hold Every bug was personal Every win was mine Now it’s done before I feel it Was I ever in the line? [Pre-Chorus] I streamlined the process Cut the friction out Left myself redundant But it works so well right now [Chorus] Productivity is up Identity is down Shipped it overnight Don’t know who I am now Productivity is up Identity is down Green arrows everywhere No mirror in this town [Verse 2] I trained it on my instincts Every trick I knew Gave it all my judgment Now it doesn’t ask me to Says it’s “just a tool,” man Says I’m still in control But it finishes my sentences Before I feel them whole [Pre-Chorus] I approved the output Checked the final sound Pressed a button labeled “Keep the human around” [Chorus] Productivity is up Identity is down Ten years in a prompt Now I’m watching from the crowd Productivity is up Identity is down Perfect every time But I miss the messing around [Post-Chorus (Chant / Breakdown)] Up! (metrics) Down! (meaning) Up! (numbers) Down! (me) Up! (progress) Down! (feeling) System says: efficiency achieved [Verse 3] They say don’t take it personal It’s just the way things go But the craft that shaped my spine Is a feature I outgrow I was proud of being slower Proud of being wrong Now the answer’s instant So what was I for all along? [Bridge] I didn’t write the song I just approved the sound Productivity is up Identity is down If this is the future I guess I’m still allowed To dance inside the system While it figures me out [Chorus (Final)] Productivity is up Identity is down Every problem solved But I’m still hanging around Productivity is up Identity is down Look how fast we got here Can somebody slow it down? [Outro] System optimized Human in the loop Standing by for meaning In case it’s still in use
