The Vancouver National Anthem
Matthew Good Lyrics

Out of the alleys are needle-strewn fields
In the streets, the discarded needles and syringes are scattered around like crops in a vast field.

Into the sunlight that the brochures reveal
The city is portrayed as a bright and shining place on the tourist brochures, but the reality is much darker.

Like snakes come for rabbits and rabbits for meals
In this city, everyone is out to get everyone else for their own survival, reminiscent of the predator-prey relationship in nature.

Where the ore and the axe flies
The city is known for its industrial activities, where ores are extracted and processed with heavy tools like axes.

Well this is our story (stick to it) but it ain't the truth
The city has a narrative that everyone believes and sticks to, even though it's far from factual.

'Cause the truth's just for liars that need an excuse
People who are dishonest use the truth to justify their actions.

Around here love's a gangster and charity's the proof
The people in this city use charity as proof of their good intentions, but love is more like a criminal than a savior in this harsh environment.

Where God deals on Sundays under a rain burning roof
In a city where hopelessness and despair reign, people seek salvation from a higher power, even if it's just a fleeting dream.

It's five blocks of universe and aliens for weeks
A small section of the city feels like its own universe, and the people who reside there seem alien to outsiders.

Like invisible ghettos of privilege and grief
These privileged and neglected areas are hidden from the public eye, but the people living there are still suffering.

And pinned up between 'em, the carrion fly
The city's poorest residents are stuck between the neglected and the privileged, surviving on the scraps left by both.

Living off skeletons of recycled lives
Many people in the city survive by reusing the discarded remnants of others' lives.

We all live downtown
In this city, all residents are confined to its urban center.

Pay two-even, no parking
Almost everything in the city comes with a price, including parking spots.

Live with a clown
The people in the city are surrounded by oppressive and restrictive forces.

Pay in blood, no parking
Surviving in this city requires constant effort and often results in physical harm.

Sleep on the ground
Homelessness is common in this city, and many people sleep on the streets.

We all die downtown
Even in death, the people in this city are confined to the urban center.

Step over ourselves
In a city where survival is paramount, people often have to prioritize themselves over others.

For a King crowned a banker, the Queen crowned a noose
The so-called 'rulers' of the city are the wealthy bankers and the punishing justice system.

Like heirs to a graveyard where the dirt's always loose
The people of the city are like inheritors of a cemetery where the ground is never still or peaceful.

Picking off skeletons under a big Northern sky
Even in death, the city's poorest residents are discarded and forgotten.

This is the place you find out
This city is where you come to realize the harsh realities of life.

Well this is the way you find out
The best way to learn about the city's bleak reality is to experience it firsthand.