The Burning Number
Dead Letter Circus Lyrics

The same old signs
We continue to see repetitive patterns that we consume and accept without question.

Sitting here breathing in this circus
We find ourselves confined within a system that we are unwilling to challenge.

The same old game
We continue to play the same roles, repeating the same mistakes and allowing the same injustices to occur.

Feeding our fears here as disciples
We are taught to rely on fear and conform to the expectations of others in order to maintain the status quo.

Build the walls higher
We must create barriers to protect ourselves from perceived threats.

Take no chances
We cannot afford to take risks that might challenge our preconceived notions and undermine our sense of security.

Put your faith in fear and alarm
We must rely on anxiety and paranoia to motivate ourselves, rather than seeking enlightenment or understanding.

Sleep assured if you seek no answers here
We can have peace of mind if we avoid questioning the system and simply accept the way things are.

Obey, preach and comply
We are expected to conform to the beliefs and expectations of others, rather than thinking for ourselves or speaking out.

Be afraid
We must always operate from a place of fear, regardless of the actual danger we face.

They're keeping everything
There are powerful forces that control the flow of information and resources, and they are not accountable to the people.

Who is watching them while they look over every shoulder?
Even those who hold power are not free from suspicion and scrutiny, as others seek to hold them accountable.

They're holding everything
Those in power are also controlling who has access to resources, keeping many people in a state of dependence.

If you question them maybe you′re the burning number
Those who challenge the status quo are often seen as threats to be suppressed or eliminated.

Place your hate with mass opinion
We are encouraged to direct our anger and resentment at those who think differently, rather than at the institutions that actually perpetuate our suffering.

Accept your truth as told
We are asked to blindly accept the dominant narrative and not to question it or seek alternate perspectives.

Every lie
Even the most egregious falsehoods are perpetuated and accepted as truth by those who have the most to gain from them.

Because we chose this through our inaction
Our failure to act has allowed the current state of affairs to persist and flourish, even when we know it is not in our best interest.

So embrace, breathe and disarm
We must let go of our anger and fear and approach the world with openness and compassion.

Nothing to fear at all
If we face our fears directly and honestly, we will discover that they have no power over us.

With nothing to hide
We must operate from a place of transparency and honesty, recognizing that by doing so we can dismantle systems of oppression and deceit.

Be honest
We must always strive to be truthful, even when doing so is difficult or uncomfortable.

Do you believe it all?
We must question the information that is presented to us and seek sources that are trustworthy and reliable.

They say they live among us
There are those who have access to hidden knowledge or resources that are not available to the rest of us.

What if they live above us?
There are forces that are beyond our comprehension or control, and we must grapple with the idea that they are operating in ways that we cannot fathom.

And if they live above us
We must consider the possibility that there is a power structure that exists beyond our ability to observe or understand.

Build the walls higher take no chances
We continue to reinforce barriers that separate us from the unknown, rather than seeking to engage with it in a productive and constructive way.

Safe in your cage
We remain confined by our own fears and limitations, refusing to venture outside of the structures that we have created for ourselves.

Maybe you′re the burning number
By stepping out of the established norms and habits of our society, we risk becoming targets of those who seek to maintain the status quo.