Disparity By Design

All the way at the bottom

Of these barrels we cried out

So ashamed of our tears that

We blame only ourselves

And that's when they win

They keep us convinced

To lift up our chins

"These playing fields are level

We all have a chance"

With that they dismiss

The fast lanes they rode

In which access depends

On who you know

Or where you came from

Whose daughter are you?

Whose fortunate son?

We're told to stick out our thumbs

They feast from the linens

While we settle for crumbs

Is this an over-reaching arm?

Or is this compassion?

Is this a handout undeserved?

Or a just reparation? (A just reparation)

All the way from the towers

High above glass ceilinged tombs

Tell themselves

That they've earned this

By working hard

And playing by the rules

But this is only part true

A dangerous trick

Played on me and you

And so, like a practical joke

We pulled on these bootstraps

So hard that they broke

Is this an over-reaching arm?

Or is this compassion?

Is this a handout undeserved?

Or a just reparation?

And like a single domino

That falls while the rest stay vertical

We're fed these empty fairy tales

And will you believe them?

And if there's a God

You better pray

That this sleeping giant never wakes

And if we just take a step back

A bigger picture we might view

Perhaps the man in the gutter

Is not so different from you

Come in out of the cold

Forget all that you know

Because there's always been room

By the fire for you (Oh)

Come in out of the cold

Will you believe them?

Is this an over-reaching arm?

Or is this compassion?

Is this a handout undeserved?

Or a just reparation?

And like a single domino

That falls while the rest stay vertical

We're fed these empty fairy tales

And I'm through believing