Dirty Work
Sweatshop Union Lyrics

Well I'd like to see the likes of me relax with a wife and seed
I wish to have a peaceful life with a family, time for leisure activities and intellectual growth with no struggle for survival.

Time to write and read
Have time to explore creativity and acquire knowledge.

No fight to get a bite to eat
I desire a world where people don't have to fight for basic necessities like food.

It might just be a pipe dream but fuck the alternative
Even though it might seem unrealistic, I refuse to accept a world where people have to suffer.

Turning the lights green on the destruction of the Earth
We need to stop destroying the planet by allowing the continuation of harmful practices.

It's just obvious to me that the way that we do it's wrong
Current societal systems and behaviours are unjust and need to change.

And I'm not just gonna be the type that prays and moves along
I refuse to be passive and accept fate, relying only on prayer to solve problems.

When these days we lose are gone, and we need every moment
Life is short, so we must seize every moment to make a positive impact on the world.

The maze is too long to proceed that slow and
We cannot make progress if we move too slowly through life’s complexities.

When the pain stops I'll crawl up out of bed
When I am no longer in discomfort, I will continue to push for change.

But these raindrops are falling on my head
I am currently experiencing obstacles and setbacks.

My brain stopped recalling what I read
I can no longer remember what I learned in school, which is now replaced with new knowledge and perspectives.

Back in school 'cause I train not to swallow what I'm fed
I am unlearning the ideologies taught in school and critically analyzing what I am fed.

So for the time being I'm seeing things a little differently
I have developed alternative perspectives and visions for the future.

Bringing out the kid in me as I sing and shout a symphony
I express my creative side and hopeful nature, even in the face of adversity.

And think about the shit that we confuse and take for granted
We often overlook the things in life, which we take for granted, and need to re-examine what we actually need.

'Cause we're losing sacred land as we abuse and rape this planet
The planet is being destroyed by humans, and we have to acknowledge that we cannot continue to destroy it.

Get our hands dirty working for the things we need
We should work in a focused manner to achieve our essential needs.

Scritch scratch to eat and the air that I breathe
We must struggle and fight to acquire food and breathe unpolluted air.

Leave the rest alone and rest time at home
Focus on important things instead of wasting time on irrelevant things.

A congested mess of those obsessed with what they own
A society where people are obsessed with and hoard their possessions and material wealth.

I'm proud of who I am
I am confident and proud of my identity.

We're deep in sinking sand
We are currently in a societal and environmental crisis, which is worsening in time.

And not allowed to give a damn
We are discouraged from caring and making a change.

But with this vivid plan I'll visit lands
I have a clear plan to enact change, which will inspire people from different geographical regions.

I'm sick of name brands
I am disillusioned by the obsession of society with commercial products and brands.

Made cynics out of fans
Consumer culture has created cynicism in people.

To limit what we understand
Consumerism and commercialism restrict our cognitive understanding of the world.

But in this village of the damned
People are living in a society where they are oppressed and exploited.

It seems a long ways away
The prospect of change seems far off due to a lack of public awareness.

Another day gone astray
Another hopeless day has gone past without progress or change.

One more song that gets no play
Another creative expression has gone unheard and ignored.

The old say it's the youth, but the youth say it's the old
There is a generational conflict arising due to differing beliefs and ways of thinking.

The truth is rarely told, unaware we're out of control
The truth is often concealed in favour of keeping people powerless and unaware.

Tryin' to hold ourselves together, but all of it tempts me
We are trying to keep moving forward, but the obstacles along the way are tempting me to give up.

The heart and the soul and the wallet running empty
We are feeling financially and emotionally drained.

From MTV to the pages of the source
Media, in all its forms, contributes to the perpetuation of harmful societal norms.

We pay homage to the hordes that line the shelves of record stores
Consumer culture dictates our admiration for artists and celebrities instead of real role models.

What's it all for?
What is the purpose of this superficial and destructive way of living?

Should I get off my ass and be like everybody else?
Should I conform and live with the status quo or should I go against the current and seek to make a difference?

Maybe seek some help
I might need the guidance of others to enact change.

Or live in rhythm of health
I should focus on maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

For an instant found wealth
A quick, but unsustainable and unethical method of gaining wealth.

But no resistance is felt
Without effort and struggle, change cannot happen.

I hear manic street preachers speak of God and our sins
Erratic or intense politicians and religious leaders address matters concerning humanity’s faults and religion.

We gotta begin
We must start taking action.

To see that God is within
We must connect with our own divinity within ourselves.

The u-n-i-verse of Earth as we constantly spin
We are all interconnected and part of the universe.

Do you wish to be free, or be habitually sleeping?
Do you want to be liberated or succumb to the norms imposed by society?

Are we histories sheep, or will we live to see freedom?
Will we remain passive and be condemned to history or will we rise up and create a free society?

Cause we been lied to all of our lives
The lies of the system and authority have been ingrained into every aspect of our lives.

And I don't think I can take anymore
I cannot tolerate the lies and deception anymore.

F*ck TV, high school, and all of your lies
I reject the media, the educational system, and the messages they are promoting.

I can see right through your face to the core
I can see through the facades and the inauthenticity of the system.

So don't even try to tell me what to say
I am not receptive to the social conditioning that is being imposed.

I'll make you scream and cry when you take my love away
I will resist the system by challenging the status quo and my passion for others to do the same.

Day in and day through
Every single day.

I may win and may lose
Results can either be favourable or unfavourable, but taking action is the only way forward.

But if all else fails I'll just sing and play blues
If nothing else works out, I will continue to express my emotions through my art and music.

Hey you, what's your name? Make your hand into a fist
An invitation to everyone to rise up and take action together.

We haven't changed the world but we can if you resist
No matter how hopeless or impossible it seems, any effort counts in creating change.