Don't Let it Go

In an instant I was greeted at

The doorway of a toxic social scene

Narcissistic and conceited and

I fit right in 'cause they were just like me

Made my way down to the kitchen

Kicking back and swapping stories, getting stoned

But the stash runs dry and soon enough

You're broken, sad, and sober and alone

Tempted to try and fill the void with

Parties, sex, and surface level friends

But a few years running circles later

Realize you're right back there again

Opportunities will dwindle

As you fall further behind all of your peers

Old friendships left unkindled take

The back seat to new families and careers

So while you can, hold on to what you can

And if you can, don't let it go

Or end up as an empty man

In an empty house that used to feel like home

Now we're picking up new hobbies

New attempts to fill the silence of the day

But soon enough we find out we can't

Lift or sing or play this pain away

Homeless, drunks, and prisoners

Their faces broadcast onto the TV

Provide decent folk examples of

The people they should strive to never be

And the algorithm's spewing shit

A force-fed feedback loop where nothing's new

Creating culture celebrating virtue-ized compulsion to consume

So watch another episode, the TV screen eternally turned on

And if the screen's not sharp enough then buy a better one on Amazon

So while you can, hold on to what you can

And if you can, don't let it go

Or end up as an empty man

In an empty house that used to feel like home

Now I watch my wheels turn, I'm taking

Shortcuts to dead ends, nowhere to go

So for now I'm waiting patiently

To visit places I may never go

I know I'll get there eventually

Even if "there" is but an early grave

At least I'll be rotting liberated

Till then give me something I can break

So while you can, hold on to what you can

And if you can, don't let it go

Or end up as an empty man

In an empty house that used to feel like home