Verse 1:
Empty porch swings, and a quiet street
Folks rush past, never dare to greet
Windows cracked open, but no laughter flows
Just the hum of the cars, and the wind that blows
Old men on benches, staring at their hands
Remembering a world that no one understands
Where a tip of a hat meant more than pride
And a handshake could stop a fight
Verse 2:
Kids in the yard, glued to their screens
Dreaming in pixels, forgetting what life means
Adults on their phones, lost in a feed
Chasing likes over what’s truly in need
A “please” is a whisper, a “thank you” is gone
No one notices when right feels wrong
We used to hold doors, stand up straight
Now the world just pushes, fueled by hate
Chorus:
Somewhere down the line, respect left town
Left us with noise, left us with frowns
Shouted at the sky, but it don’t come back
We’re chasing ghosts down a broken track
Yeah, respect left town
Yeah, respect left town
Verse 3:
I drove past the diner, neon lights flicker
Empty booths, coffee cold, the air feels thicker
Waitress smiles, but it’s forced and faint
Like the last remnant of some old saint
Kids shouting curses where they used to play
Adults raising voices at the end of the day
No one stops to listen, no one waits
We’re racing to nowhere, closing all the gates
Verse 4:
Neighbors don’t nod, strangers don’t pause
No one remembers the old golden laws
Help a man up, don’t take what’s not yours
Show some decency, open the doors
But it’s all gone, like smoke in the air
Like a promise broken, like nobody cares
And I keep my own, I guard my ground
But it’s lonely here where respect ain’t found
Verse 5:
The preacher’s words echo through the steeple
But folks rush past, ignoring the people
A boy drops his ball in the middle of the street
No one bends down, no one’s there to meet
The corner store sells everything but heart
And the library’s quiet, torn apart
Even love feels cheaper than it did before
Like someone stole the key and locked the door
Bridge:
I try to believe, I try to hope
That someone will care enough to cope
With the little things, the simple ways
The gentle moments that fill our days
But this world keeps spinning, fast and blind
Leaving kindness and honor far behind
So I’ll hold the line, I’ll make my stand
Even if respect never touches this land
Chorus / Outro:
Somewhere down the line, respect left town
Left us with noise, left us with frowns
Shouted at the sky, but it don’t come back
We’re chasing ghosts down a broken track
Yeah, respect left town
Yeah, respect left town
I’ll keep my own, I’ll hold it tight
Even if the world forgot what’s right
Yeah, respect left town…
Yeah, respect left town
BigZ
