Disparity by Design

Awake 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 row What it takes, it depends on who you know Or where you came from Whose daughter are you? Whose fortunate son? Will it so To stick up our bones And piece from the letters How we settled the crimes Is this an over-reaching arm Or is this compassion? Is this a handout undeserved Or a just reparation? (a just reparation) Away from the towers High above the ceiling tombs Tell themselves That they've earned this Like working hard Or 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 put on these bootstraps So high 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 Will you fear these empty fairytales Or will you believe them? And if fear's a game You better pray That this sleeping giant never wakes 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, all of the cold Forget all that you know Because there's always been room By the fire for you, oh Come in, all 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 Will you fear these empty fairytales Or will you believe them?