They Call it Progress

They changed the words, not the deal

Same old weight, just dressed in steel

Painted over cracks and chains

Said “Don’t worry, it’s not the same”

New signs hanging on broken doors

Same hungry look behind the stores

They move the lines, they shift the blame

Then smile and say it’s not a game

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They swear it’s better now

Funny how it feels familiar

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They call it progress

I call it fast

Running in circles

From a future to the past

They call it progress

Clean and polite

But it still costs the same

To try to live right

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They automate the human touch

Say efficiency matters more than us

Teach the kids new words for need

While cutting corners they don’t see

Every promise comes with terms

Every bridge gets left half-burned

They say “adapt or fall behind”

Like leaving people out’s a sign

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They sell the climb, ignore the fall

Say “this helps everyone”

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They call it progress

I call it thin

A prettier lie

With sharper edges in

They call it progress

Brave and new

But the boots still land

On the same old few

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If this is forward

Why does it feel like we’re losing ground

If this is freedom

Why does it come with a countdown

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(Step ahead…)

(Pay the cost…)

(Gain a little…)

(Lose a lot…)

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They call it progress

I call it fast

No time to ask

Who didn’t last

They call it progress

I just sigh

Same song playing

Different tie

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They’ll rename it again

When it breaks

That’s progress

For heaven’s sake