John Reuben - Chapter I Lyrics

The Boy Vs. The Cynic
Chapter One, page one
I'll start from the top

I'll embrace dreams again when I can breath again
And at that point I won't be needing them
It became clear to me that I was fighting a war I couldn't win
You don't make it on your own merit
Only royalty inherits the kingdom

And that's a system good intentions can't help
Your courage is not good here, so don't try to excel
What a sad day when you realize nothing can change
The revolution didn't leave you, it never came

There will be no parades, no royal balls
Just long days topped off with last calls for alcohol
Go to sleep wake up and repeat the same routine
Smooth skin dressed with wrinkles and brown eyes with dark rings

And entertainers sing of extremes that don't exist for you or me
When real life is reality TV
No wonder our youth don't believe in anything
It's all a joke, there are no heroes
Just those of us with high hopes

It's just not that simple
I'm not trying to save it all I just want to create a ripple
And even if one individual is affected
It's monumental with an unusual perspective

That's beautiful in essence
Traditional thinking won't suggest this
Is life really that precious? Well, yes, it is
But there will be no celebrations or congratulations
No pat on the back just your mind intact

And the freedom to feel your heart beat at the speed of life
Go to sleep tonight knowing you did it right
And rest easy outside of a system that resents you
For not doing what they expect you to do

Psychologically wear you down and then they make the suggestion
That you get on a prescription to deal with your depression
Anxious lazy temperamental obese
That's what money makers like to call a disease

And they'll be looking for or creating new problems
With profitable solutions to solve them
But you won't get any better, you'll just come back for more
Until your medicine drawer is filled with unreliable cures

And that's the way of the beast and I can't do nothing about it
I could shout it in a room that's crowded
But I doubt it'd make a difference
So ignorance will be my disguise
'Cause 21st Century America likes its witchcraft civilized
'Cause 21st Century America likes its witchcraft civilized