Disparity By Design

All the way at the bottom of the barrels, we cry out So ashamed of our tears that we blame only ourselves 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 On 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? (Or just reparation) All the way from the towers, high above glass ceiling 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've 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 fairytales But will you believe them? And if there's a God, you better pray That this sleeping giant never wakes But if we just took a step back A bigger picture we might view Perhaps a 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 fairytales And I'm through believing