[Verse 1]
They smile for the cameras
Then lock the gate
Tell us “work harder”
While they eat on our plate
Paper crown heavy
On a rotten head
Road full of sirens
And a kid out bread
Rent up high
Wages stuck in mud
Mothers count coins
Tryna buy back blood
Corners full of hunger
Kids learn quick
When the fridge is empty
Crime comes slick
[Pre-Chorus]
Who gonna answer?
Who gonna stand?
When the hunger’s growing
In this stolen land
[Chorus]
Paper crown, paper crown
Burn it down, burn it down
Paper crown, paper crown
We won’t kneel now
Paper crown, paper crown
Hear that sound, hear that sound
Paper crown, paper crown
This is our town
[Verse 2]
Back alleys packed
With the broken truth
One more badge
One more bruise on youth
Bribes in the drawers
Names on the list
They call it order
But it feeds on fists
A mother cries low
By the market stall
Her son got taken
For a bag, that’s all
Another deal signed
Another flood of lies
While the rich keep rising
On the poor man’s sighs
[Pre-Chorus]
Who gonna answer?
Who gonna stand?
When the hunger’s growing
In this stolen land
[Chorus]
Paper crown, paper crown
Burn it down, burn it down
Paper crown, paper crown
We won’t kneel now
Paper crown, paper crown
Hear that sound, hear that sound
Paper crown, paper crown
This is our town
[Bridge]
No more pretending
No more dressed-up pain
We know the faces
We know the chain
From the shack to the tower
From the cell to the school
Same old taking
Same old cruel
[Final Chorus]
Paper crown, paper crown
Burn it down, burn it down
Paper crown, paper crown
We won’t kneel now
Paper crown, paper crown
Hear that sound, hear that sound
Paper crown, paper crown
We take it back now