Waking Up

Last night I was dreaming I was in my GMC

I was feeling kind of empty because it was just a '93

So I filled it full of fossil from the bosom of the earth

Which I burned up quite a lot of on my long commute to work

Where I worked at what I hated just to keep up with the bills

Which I paid to meet the rising cost of feeling unfulfilled

Which I felt at every moment with occasional respite

Like the times that I'd go shopping or watch TV shows at night

But I'm waking up, but I'm waking up

I'm waking up from the American Dream

Last night I was dreaming of the one eternal hope

That my life would be improved if the economy would grow

Which already was a monster on a mission to consume

And was eating almost everything and running out of room

And it whispered to me "mister, here's some products that you need

And the standard of your living is too low" and I agreed!

So I got myself a credit card with not a penny down

And a long ride on the not-so-merry-money-go-round

But I'm waking up, but I'm waking up

I'm waking up from the American Dream

Yeah, the world was like an Amoco and I said "Fill er up!"

With a house, a car, a VCR, a lawn and all that stuff

But I got a nagging notion that enough did not exist

And at the end of every day I'd wonder "is this all there is?"

And someone said "Hey, you've already got ten times more than the rest

And six-billion other people want the little that's still left!"

But I snapped "It's a free country and by rights it's mine to keep

And by the way, who do I pay to take away this garbage heap?"

But I'm waking up, but I'm waking up

I'm waking up from the American Dream

It seemed that the beginning of the dream was so benign, I mean

All I ever wanted was a smidgen of the pie

And some comfort and security and good things for my kids

And, OK, to please the neighbors and my ego while I did

Anyway, it's great to be awake and feeling satisfied

With seeking out the simple and the deeper things in life

And with giving to the world instead of hoarding it for me

Boy, I guess I'm not too excited about falling back to sleep

And as crazy as it was, hey, was it a dream or not?

Well, just promise not to save me if I ever start to nod

Put no-doze in my coffee, throw me outside in the cold

Just don't ever say "OK now, back to bed you go!"

But I'm waking up, but I'm waking up

I'm waking up from the American Dream