[Street Dolls – American Dream]
[Intro – Whisper / Music Box]
[Lily – whisper]:
Once upon a time, they sold me a dream…
[ad-libs:] hush now… don’t wake up…
[Verse 1 – Lily]
Suitcases full of hope and broken prayers
Mama said, “Baby, we’ll be safe somewhere”
Golden lights, postcards, movie scenes
But behind the smiles, nothing’s what it seems
Paper wings, we tried to fly
Borderlines drawn in the sky
They called it freedom, called it fate
But fear was waiting at the gate
[ad-libs:] breathe in… breathe out…
[Pre-Chorus – May]
They took my name, they took my home
Cold white rooms, I’m all alone
Mama crying through the glass
Daddy’s voice fading fast
Every promise starts to rot
When your tears are what they want
They sell heaven, but it’s hell
In the story they don’t tell
[Chorus – Lily & May]
Welcome to the American Dream
Where nobody hears you scream
Cotton candy lies so sweet
Cover bruises underneath
Welcome to the American Dream
Pretty cages, broken wings
Stars and stripes, but I’m unseen
Is this really freedom’s theme?
[ad-libs:] don’t let me go… can you hear me?
[Post-Chorus – Hana (Rap)]
They call us shadows in the land of gold
Little hands, but hearts too old
Locked in rooms, counting days
While the world just looks away
Numbers, files, steel and chains
Trauma stitched into our veins
They build their walls with our pain
Then sell the dream again, again
[Verse 2 – May]
Playgrounds made of broken glass
Fairytales that never last
Every night I pray in fear
Begging God to bring them near
Lullabies from distant cells
Hymns inside these living hells
We were kids, not enemies
Just chasing fragile fantasies
[ad-libs:] mama… papa…
[Pre-Chorus 2 – Lily]
If love is real, then where is mine?
Why does mercy cross the line?
If dreams are free, then tell me why
Only angels get to fly
[Chorus – All]
Welcome to the American Dream
Where nobody hears you scream
Paper crowns and magazine queens
Hide the blood behind the scenes
Welcome to the American Dream
Broken hearts in limousines
We crossed oceans just to bleed
Is this really what it means?
[ad-libs:] save me now… don’t look away…
[Bridge – Dream Breakdown]
Lily: I just wanted to belong…
May: I just wanted to be strong…
Hana: I just wanted to go home…
[ad-libs:] dream… dream… dream…
[Final Chorus – Explosive]
Welcome to the American Dream
Neon lights, but hearts in chains
They sell hope, we pay in pain
Say our names, remember our flames
Welcome to the American Dream
No more silence, no more shame
From the ashes, we will scream
We survived your broken dream
[ad-libs:] we survived… hear us now… say our names…
[Outro – Lily (a cappella)]
Once upon a time, they sold me a dream…
Now I’m wide awake…
And I finally see.
StreetDolls