Made In China
The Effort Lyrics

Perfect, just perfect
Society wants us to be 'perfect', but that definition of perfection is worthless and unattainable.

Perfect, we're all worthless
Perfection is a false ideal that devalues our worth as human beings.

Perfect, just like an airbrushed cover
The unrealistic standards of perfection presented in media are no different than an airbrushed magazine cover - fake and unattainable.

They'll want us to be
Society has certain expectations of how we should behave and look.

And we'll be perfect
Despite the fact that perfection is unattainable and worthless, we still strive to meet society's expectations.

When pretty facades are all we've chosen to see
We've been conditioned to value the outer appearance over the substance of a person.

Lead around
We are being controlled and manipulated.

Like horses
We are being led around like animals with no will of our own.

With our blinders on
We are being intentionally kept ignorant of what's really going on.

Can't you see
The singer is pleading with the listener to wake up and see the situation for what it is.

It's a way of controlling our minds?
The unrealistic expectations and focus on appearance is a method of brainwashing and controlling people's thoughts and behaviors.

That this country is so far gone?
The singer believes that society is too far gone and too manipulated to be salvaged.

We've been broken down
Society has broken us down and made us feel ashamed of who we are.

We have been ashamed
Society has made us feel ashamed of our imperfections.

Our minds have been bound
Our thinking has been restricted and controlled.

And we're taught to live afraid
We are taught to fear judgment and not live authentically.

Just so these rich fucks
The wealthy elite who profit from our suffering...

That are working in buildings
...live in luxury and opulence while the rest of us suffer.

That can touch the clouds
The buildings they work in are so tall they touch the clouds, emphasizing their power and wealth.

Can make even just one more cent
The wealthy continue to exploit us for their own financial gain.

Off of our suffering
The suffering of the masses is what enables the wealthy to maintain their wealth and power.

And to make Sam proud
They do this to impress and satisfy someone named Sam.

Sam, are you proud?
The singer is addressing someone named Sam, who represents the forces that perpetuate this cycle of exploitation and suffering.

So now you can understand
The singer is trying to shed light on the root causes of the problems they see in society.

Why I've always felt animosity
The singer has always felt resentment and hostility.

When reminded of these times
When reminded of the injustices they've experienced in the past...

Of childhood hostility
...particularly when they were young and vulnerable.

Did you really think
The singer is challenging the intentions of those who perpetuate these injustices.

We wouldn't grow bitter
The suffering they've endured has led to feelings of bitterness and resentment.

When you force young students
When society forces young students...

To pray at flags
...to perform rituals that represent devotion to the country.

Made in China?
...while ignoring the fact that the symbols they're being forced to revere are produced using cheap labor and poor working conditions.

I've spoken of communities
The singer has advocated for coming together as a community to enact positive change.

And changing for you and me
The singer is asking everyone to change their mindset and work together to create a better society for all.

I've asked people to be
The singer has made a plea for individuals to take responsibility and make a change.

As strong as they can
To be as resilient and committed as possible.

And to lend a helping hand
To help one another and work together for positive change.

But I'm still rotting on the inside
Despite their efforts to remain positive and hopeful, the singer is still plagued by negative emotions.

And the outside all over,
Their physical appearance reflects the emotional turmoil they're experiencing.

With not enough makeup
Even something as small as using makeup to cover imperfections is not enough to mask the deep-rooted issues in society.

That can even come close to cover
The singer believes that the problems in society are too deep-seated to be solved by surface-level solutions like makeup.

That our minds have been manipulated
The manipulation and control of society's thoughts and behaviors runs deep.

By the five corporations
The singer believes that large corporations are behind much of the manipulation and exploitation in society.

And then sucked into the vacuum
Individuals and communities are drawn into this cycle of exploitation and control.

Of their occupation.
The corporations maintain their power and wealth through the continued occupation and exploitation of individuals and society as a whole.