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?
All the way from the towers
High above the 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?
Like a single domino
That falls like the rest stay vertical
We're fed these empty fairy tales
Will you believe them?
If there's a God you better pray
That this sleeping giant never wakes
If we just took a step back
A bigger picture we might see
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
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?
Like a single domino
That falls like the rest stay vertical
We're fed these empty fairy tales
And I'm through believing
They're basically saying that our current capitalist system is designed to favor those already in power. They (the higher ups in power) say that all people have a fair chance to get to where they are, but that is false because they were born privileged.
By accepting that we have a fair chance to succeed (when we don't), we are accepting their lies (Pulling yourself up by your bootstraps is impossible to do, but we do it anyways to try and get wealthy, hence the practical joke). Also, they are saying a redistribution of wealth is just and morally right because these people who are poor and "unsuccessful" never had a fair chance in the first place.
The lyrics are wrong, this is from the book:
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?
All the way from the towers High above the 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? Like a single domino That falls like the rest stay vertical We're fed these empty fairy tales Will you believe them?
If there's a God you better pray That this sleeping giant never wakes
If we just took a step back A bigger picture we might see 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 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?
Like a single domino That falls like the rest stay vertical We're fed these empty fairy tales And I'm through believing
They're basically saying that our current capitalist system is designed to favor those already in power. They (the higher ups in power) say that all people have a fair chance to get to where they are, but that is false because they were born privileged.
By accepting that we have a fair chance to succeed (when we don't), we are accepting their lies (Pulling yourself up by your bootstraps is impossible to do, but we do it anyways to try and get wealthy, hence the practical joke). Also, they are saying a redistribution of wealth is just and morally right because these people who are poor and "unsuccessful" never had a fair chance in the first place.