Born In The System

Born in the System Verse 1 I was born in a system that told my parents, “You’re free” Born in ’84, learned early what that means Work just to live, never live to breathe Clock runs your life, call it “opportunity” They take from your check, say “be thankful, behave” Smile for the chains, wave the flag of the cage They sell you the dream, then invoice the sleep Call it adulthood — I call it receipt Pre-Chorus If freedom’s real, why it feel like rent? Why truth feel dangerous, but lies pay rent? Chorus Why’s this world so twisted, backwards, numb? Why’s common sense treated like a loaded gun? They preach progress while the soul stays sick Say “don’t ask questions,” just learn to pick I don’t hate people, I hate the scheme That keeps us divided, deaf, and asleep Verse 2 Left and right screaming, nobody hears Every side weaponized by fear Identity sold like a brand-new skin Truth gets blurry when the likes roll in Men taught strength is something to erase Women told power means hating their face Everybody fighting what they’re “supposed to be” While the system eats quietly Pre-Chorus If clarity’s wrong, then why it feel right? Why sanity feels like a losing fight? Chorus Why’s this world so twisted, backwards, numb? Why’s truth taboo but outrage’s fun? They call it care, but it feels like control Diagnose the pain, never heal the soul I don’t hate people, I hate the lie That tells us who we are before we decide Bridge Maybe we’re sick, but not the way they say Maybe we’re tired of being shaped like clay Not crazy, just done being told Who to be, what to feel, what to hold Outro I was born in the noise, learned to hear between Still standing awake in a world half-dreamed If that makes me dangerous, so be it then I’d rather be real than agreeable, friend Why this version is “better” Targets systems, not identities Feels angry but intelligent, not disposable Won’t get instantly dismissed or shut down Still says: “Something is wrong, and I see it.”