What We Worked For
Rebelling Melodies: Chords of Resistance and Working Class Narratives
Lyrics
Lost the confidence to write a song,
Feeling a lack of confidence in creating music.
So I found three simple chords
Using simple musical elements (three chords) to compensate for the lack of confidence.
And held them together with my weak voice
Singing with a weak voice while playing an out-of-tune guitar received from the speaker's father.
On an out of tune guitar
Describing the condition of the guitar, emphasizing its imperfections.
My father gave to me.
Highlighting the sentimental value of the guitar given by the speaker's father.
And may Elvis turn in his grave
Referencing Elvis Presley and Les Paul, potentially implying a desire for their approval or acknowledgment.
And Les Paul kiss my dirty, calloused fingers
Expressing a wish for validation from influential figures in music.
And may the likes of this song never make
Rejecting the commercial success of the song, wishing it to remain authentic.
One fucking dollar,
Emphasizing the desire for the song to remain pure and not aimed at making money.
leave it for a demo tape
Leaving the song for distribution as a demo rather than commercial release.
To be played until it's broken,
Intending for the song to be continuously played until the medium (demo tape) is worn out.
Then remembered only for what it was.
Anticipating the song to be remembered solely for its original essence.
That we gave them hell
Emphasizing the assertion that they confronted challenges or adversaries strongly.
That we gave them hell
-That we gave them hell
-That we gave them hell
Reiterating the idea of facing challenges or adversaries fiercely.
That we gave them hell
-That we gave them hell
-To my friends and enemies who could have been anything,
Recognizing friends and foes who aspired for more but were constrained by societal demands.
Titans and heroes who found sruvival in cause and effect.
-Behind counters,
-Behind windows,
-Striving just
-To be people
-With bitter ideals of justice.
-Do we only need to keep working because it pays rent?
Questioning the purpose of continuous work solely for sustenance.
Sleeping under plastic stars glued to ceiling,
Depicting the toil and strain of everyday life, possibly in mundane jobs.
Muscles burning alcohol and nicotine
-Every morning.
-But we gave them hell
Repeatedly asserting the resilience shown in facing challenges.
But we gave them hell
-But we gave them hell
-But we gave them hell
-But we gave them hell
-But we gave them hell
-There's a height beyond skyscrapers,
Highlighting the existence of something more significant beyond materialistic or superficial aspects.
There's a distance beyond the freeway,
-More than pictures in a magazine,
-More than tragedy in a rock and roll song.
-It's more than actions you know are safe to make.
Implying the importance of taking bold, potentially risky actions.
It's more than money could ever buy.
Emphasizing that the deeper meaning of life surpasses material wealth.
Are we living to work and die in American cities?
Questioning the purpose of life in American cities, contemplating the cycle of work and death.
And workin to live and die in American cities?
-And dying for what we worked!
Reflecting on the sacrifice and dedication put into work, possibly for uncertain outcomes or rewards.
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