(Intro – soft keys, news soundbites fading in)
Yeah… feels like the world on pause right now.
Everybody talkin’, nobody listenin’.
But we still here.
(Verse 1)
Clocked in, but the check don’t show,
Bills stack high, can’t let that go.
Government froze, that’s the new low,
Tell me who’s runnin’ the show, who knows?
Mama still prayin’ for the food stamps clear,
Pop lost hope but he hide that fear.
They fight on the Hill while we fight out here —
Same old game, just a new year.
(Pre-Chorus)
We just tryna keep the lights on,
Dreamin’ even when the night’s long.
Talkin’ change, but it’s been gone —
Still singin’ that same old song.
(Hook – catchy, layered vocals)
We in a shutdown season (yeah),
No pay, no reason (no).
Still they pledge allegiance (uh),
While the world keeps bleedin’ (bleedin’).
From New York to L.A.,
We still find a way —
Keep the faith through the pain,
Can’t shut down the flame.
(Verse 2)
First Muslim mayor in NYC,
Whole crowd yellin’, “Let the city breathe!”
People want peace, people want jobs,
People want truth — not the rich man’s props.
Tariffs on chips, markets gettin’ tense,
Dreams cost dollars, life make sense?
But I still rise, like I’m heaven-sent,
‘Cause my voice the only thing they can’t silence yet.
(Pre-Chorus)
We just tryna keep the lights on,
Dreamin’ even when the night’s long.
Talkin’ change, but it’s been gone —
Still singin’ that same old song.
(Hook)
We in a shutdown season (yeah),
No pay, no reason (no).
Still they pledge allegiance (uh),
While the world keeps bleedin’ (bleedin’).
From D.C. to the Bay,
We still find a way —
Keep the faith through the pain,
Can’t shut down the flame.
(Bridge – soulful female vocal overlay)
Ooh, we rise up, when the lights go down,
No crown, but we still hold ground.
They can close the doors, can’t take the sound,
Our voices louder than the underground.
(Hook – final, big production)
We in a shutdown season (yeah),
No pay, no reason (no).
Still they pledge allegiance (uh),
While the world keeps bleedin’ (bleedin’).
From the block to the plains,
We still call your name —
Hope’s the one thing,
You can’t shut down again.
(Outro – soft piano fade)
Nah… you can’t shut us down.
We still breathin’.
We still fightin’.
We still here.