Paper Borders

**(Verse 1)**

Sirens in the morning news again

Another name blurred out, another “we regret”

Mama’s praying in a language they don’t hear

Daddy’s hands are shaking, says “don’t open the door, my dear”

They call it policy, call it law and order

But it feels like hunting season at the border

They draw their lines with pens and guns

And wonder why we’re coming undone

**(Pre-Chorus)**

They say it’s just procedure

Just a badge, just a badge

But I see fear learn to breathe in a kid’s chest

**(Chorus)**

I’m angry and I’m tired and I’m scared as hell

Watching families ripped apart in the name of “protect ourselves”

They say it’s not personal, but it feels that way

When your freedom depends on what paper you can display

I’m angry—yeah, I’m sad too

This country’s bleeding red, white, and bruised

**(Verse 2)**

They chant “go home” like it’s that simple

Like home isn’t ash, or war, or a gun at the temple

They don’t see the miles in worn-out shoes

Or the way hope survives when it’s got nothing to lose

Kids in cages, call it “temporary”

Funny how temporary starts feeling permanent

We learned compassion in school like it was history

Guess empathy didn’t make the budget

**(Pre-Chorus)**

They say “just follow the rules”

Like the rules don’t move

Like the door was ever really open for you

**(Chorus)**

I’m angry and I’m tired and I’m scared as hell

Watching uniforms decide who deserves to be saved or expelled

They say it’s for safety, they swear it’s clean

But safety shouldn’t sound like someone begging to breathe

I’m angry—yeah, I’m sad too

This country’s choking on the lies it chews

**(Bridge)**

What happened to “give me your tired, your poor”?

Now we’re slamming the door and asking for more

More walls, more guns, more hate on repeat

More silence when justice is lying in the street

If this is freedom, why does it shake?

Why does it feel like a constant mistake?

**(Final Chorus)**

I’m angry and I’m tired and I won’t look away

You don’t get to call it freedom if it only works one way

You can wave your flag, you can harden your heart

But history’s watching how you play your part

I’m angry—yeah, I’m sad too

And I still believe we could be better than this truth

**(Outro)**

This isn’t politics—

It’s people trying to live.