Change
Daniel Merriweather Lyrics

I saw a dried up river and a rich man Turning on a garden hose
I witnessed a cruel irony: a man with access to infinite resources exploiting them while right in front of him lies evidence of scarcity.

I see a young man picking up a gun I guess that's where the money goes, yeah
Young people are turning to violence as a means of survival where economic opportunities are scarce and few, and desperation is rampant.

Am I just as good as a bad man Sleeping while the rest are dying?
By sitting idly by while others suffer, am I any better than those who perpetuate the situation?

Or am I just as bad as a good man Saying there's no use of trying?
If I see injustice and believe nothing can be done, am I really any different than those who actively contribute to the problem?

Ooh, tell me do you still believe Ooh, everything that you read? 'Til we learn to get together And see who we really are
Are we really blind enough to believe everything we read? Until we come together and see beyond surface level differences, we won't truly know who we are.

Ain't nothing gonna change Ain't nothing gonna change If nobody's gonna wake up And start asking who's in charge
Change can only happen if we question authority and understand who holds power.

Ain't shit changing but diapers on babies Get higher than the background singers singing, singing Okay singing
Despite the illusion of change, little real progress is taking place. People continue to get distracted by frivolous things and ignore the problems at hand.

Some people do it all for money And some do it all for their love, yeah Some do it all for the glory 'Cause nothing else they're thinking of
People's motives for their actions vary greatly, with some prioritizing monetary gain, others driven by love, and some simply motivated by a desire for recognition.

I saw a man in a four door truck Complaining that the price is high Like a well feed man with a spoon in his hand Saying who ate all the apple pie, yeah
A privileged man complains about high prices, oblivious to his own comfort and privilege, taking more than his fair share of resources and blaming others for their own circumstances.

If I ain't ready to listen I'm never gonna listen Most follow intuition while they wishing it would work And my vision isn't perfect so I will never look for it Don't wish for some change like a church worker
If I'm not willing to listen and open to change, I'll never hear anything worthwhile. Blindly following intuition without being receptive to new ideas is fruitless, and expecting change without actively working towards it is no better than praying for it without action.

Hallelujah, preacher I am not influenced If I don't donate to your movement am I not improving? And while the poor kill the poor for a portion A piece of American society pie
I'm not swayed by false promises of religious leaders who use misguided rhetoric to take advantage of their followers. Just because I don't donate to their cause doesn't mean I'm not making a difference. Meanwhile, the poorest members of society kill each other over scraps while the rich enjoy the fruits of unfair economic systems.

I get high, the munchies I got so bear witness I got this girl looking at you 'cause my reps kissing And I ain't ready to wait when there's dollars on the brain Why would you expect change?
I'm distracted by immediate pleasures and profits, and my reputation is more important than creating lasting change. I'm not willing to wait for results when I prioritize money over progress. Why would I work towards change when I can make quick profits instead?