Pendulum Swings

[Verse 1:]
It's all been set for the winners
So be born and you've already failed
And I guess that I thought I was ready
But I never really knew what this entailed
And I was naive to think
That all it would take was a law
When we're stuck inside this machine
We're the first to be grabbed by the claw

[Verse 2:]
I thought I pulled my weight out
Only to be dragged back in
And the men in nice black suits
Will talk me down again
And this time I'll know that it's hopeless
'Cause I've already tried to fight
But my punches landed on no one
As we're tossed into the black of night

[Verse 3:]
When I was a little boy
My dad raised me like a soldier
And when I fought on our side in the war
That's when I knew that I'd gotten older
Because when I was a young man
I could see who was left behind
But when I moved on, they were in the dust
And I washed out my eyes
And so they say that I've been a traitor
To everybody back home
They knew the truth, and I knew it too
But I left them all on their own
And as it's time to trade the office
I know what's gonna happen now
Some preppy kid's come on in
And think they've got it all figured out

[Refrain:]
And the pendulum swings

[Verse 4:]
I was plagued by childish
False images of justice
Never thought for one second
That they could never have it out for us
Well I've been through the gauntlet
And I can safely say that it is
Never an option to transcend
The system they left us in

[Chorus 1:]
Everything I've done has only been for fame
But the history books will not remember my name
Congress conversations happen overnight
They say the pendulum swings to the left and to the right

[Verse 5:]
So I say now time to let 'em go
Let 'em starve out in the streets
There's no fucking hope for us
We will not get what we need
My father never did
He was caught by the game was rigged
I had no option to fix it
'Cause it still fucking is
And I guess it was naive
But I was taught to believe in democracy
And part of me still believes
But I know now that this shit don't come for free

[Chorus 1:]
So everything I've done has only been for fame
But the history books will not remember my name
And congress conversations happen overnight
They say the pendulum swings to the left and to the right

[Chorus 2:]
But the truth is that we never let it swing too far
The right can't let the ball get caught by Karl fucking Marx
So give a little push and you'll be satisfied
As the pendulum sways from the right back to the right

[Verse 6:]
I sit in the White House on the final day of my job
And I turn on the TV to find the next incumbent being interviewed
He says "Like many of us, I've been inspired by the Floyd Rivers campaign
Floyd was right about everything back then
We need healthcare, unionization, social justice, living wage
The billionaires in this country have rigged the game and it's time we take it back
I've seen the lives that oppressed classes lead, and it's not pretty
So I'm gonna go up there and do what Floyd Rivers campaigned
I'm gonna un-rig the system and take on the powers that be."

[Refrain:]
And the pendulum swings