They Call it Progress

[Verse 1]
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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[Pre-Chorus]
They swear it’s better now
Funny how it feels familiar

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[Chorus]
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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[Verse 2]
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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[Pre-Chorus]
They sell the climb, ignore the fall
Say “this helps everyone”

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[Chorus]
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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[Bridge – half-time / spoken-blues]
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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[Build – backing vocals low]
(Step ahead…)
(Pay the cost…)
(Gain a little…)
(Lose a lot…)

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[Final Chorus – heavier, resigned]
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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[Outro]
They’ll rename it again
When it breaks
That’s progress
For heaven’s sake

Blues ,female singer