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Needers & Givers Lyrics

She said "I can't take this no more."
A woman speaks of her inability to endure her current situation any longer.

Dried her tears, closed the shanty door.
After crying, she closes the door of her humble dwelling.

Fourteen hour day and a floor to sleep.
She works long hours and sleeps on the floor.

Sewing machine and a mother to three.
She has a sewing machine and is the mother of three children.

I get up, turn and leave the scene.
The artist gets up and leaves the situation behind.

Pull the plug, close the laptop screen.
The singer disconnects from technology and closes their device.

What's one to do about her living hell?
The singer questions what they can do to help the woman in distress.

I sight, put on a Gildan shirt in L.
The artist takes a deep breath and puts on a plain t-shirt in a large size.

No prosperity is innocent.
The idea that wealth is achieved at a cost and no one is innocent.

All wealth has blood on its hands.
Wealth is often gained through oppressive means and causes harm.

Those in the shadows you do not see.
Many people are affected by oppressive systems, but their pain is often overlooked.

The bright life is thievery.
The idea that living a luxurious life is often at the expense of others' suffering.

Cause I-
Introduces the chorus of the song.

Eat like an empire, wear like an empire, live this down like an empire.
Living extravagantly like an empire, with no guilt or remorse.

Breathe like an empire, move like an empire,
Being fully absorbed in the privileged lifestyle and acting with a sense of superiority.

Spend every fucking dime I ever earn like an empire.
Using all of one's money to live lavishly.

The world is a compass. Always heading North.
The idea that the world is constantly striving for progress, development and growth.

And I love this like the British loved India and the whole hemisphere Latin America and Africa. It resounds.
The idea that modern progress is often achieved through colonization and imperialism.

Relationships that wear you down.
The stress and pressure of relationships can be overwhelming.

Cheap nature, compliance, bent power, slow violence.
The systems that cause global oppression and inequality, such as cheap labor, power imbalances, and social compliance.

It's the fire of our time.
These issues are prevalent and significant in contemporary society.

Every age has its dragons.
Every era has its own pressing issues and problems to address.

I am an empire. A walking empire.
The singer identifies with the privileged lifestyle and the sense of superiority that comes with it.