So
Tracy Chapman Lyrics

So you make a little money
You profit off of someone else's hard work.

Off of somebody else's sweat
Your success is dependent on the labor of others.

So some people starve a little
Others suffer and go without necessities so that you can prosper.

While you get fat
You become wealthy and live comfortably, while others struggle to survive.

So you grind and grind
You work tirelessly and relentlessly to achieve your goals.

And you push and shove
You compete aggressively and relentlessly to win and succeed.

And claim that those most worthy
You believe that success and rewards go only to those who deserve them the most.

Will get what they deserve
You feel that rewards will only go to people who have earned them through hard work and dedication.

It can't be true
This idea of meritocracy is false and unjust.

Because I've seen too many hungry faces
I’ve witnessed too many people who have been left behind by a system that favors the wealthy and powerful.

I've seen too many with the likes of you
I’ve met too many people like you who care only about themselves and their own success.

For you everything has its price
You believe that everything has a monetary value and is only worth what it can earn you.

You give nothing away for free
You expect payment or something in return for everything you do.

If silence were truly golden
If keeping quiet was really valuable,

I guess no one could sleep
then nobody would be able to rest or find peace.

You have money at your fingertips
You have easy access to wealth and resources.

People at your beck and call
You have power over others and can command their attention and activity.

And you're fool enough
You're foolish enough to think that you can control everything.

To think for a price
You believe that you can buy anything or anyone.

You can have the whole wide world
You believe you can have anything and everything that you want.

For all our sake's
For the benefit of humanity

And all our lives
And for our survival

We must hope the words
We should pray that the words

That come from your lips
That you say

We must hope those words are lies
Are dishonest and deceitful.

We must hope the dreams
We hope that the aspirations

Soulless visions that you have
Are not heartless and selfish.

Are never realized
Do not come true.

You've got a big house
You possess a large and luxurious property.

And you drive a fancy car
You own an expensive and flashy automobile.

So what if your pockets are full
It does not matter that you are wealthy and financially secure.

If you have an empty heart
If you lack love, compassion, and kindness for others.

You snap your fingers
You command easily and swiftly.

And all the waters part
Things happen the way you want them to happen.

So what if the people bow down
It doesn't matter that others respect, admire, or worship you.

If they show you no regard
They do not truly respect, admire, or worship you.

Your left hand
One part of you

Always watches your right
Is always aware of and tracking what the other part of you is doing.

So what if you trust in god
Even if you believe in a higher power

If you can't sleep at night
If you cannot rest or find peace, it doesn't matter.

You think you've made it
You believe you have succeeded.

You think you've got what everyone wants
You feel that you possess everything that others desire to have.

So what if you're a big fat man
It makes no difference that you are a corpulent and imposing figure.

With an empty little heart
If you don't have love, empathy, and compassion in your heart.

Who has made a little money
You have earned a small amount of wealth in a dubious way.

Who watched the people starve
You witness people suffer and go hungry because of your actions.

While you got fat
While you become rich and overweight.

You got fat
You became heavy and corpulent.