Grievance Merchants
Grievance Reflections: Societal Illusions & Blame Games
Lyrics
As long there've been stories, lies and airwaves
Throughout history, stories, lies, and media have coexisted.
What makes a man a man's been right up front
The definition of manhood has always been apparent.
In visions boys are sold of what it could be
Boys are presented with visions of an idealized future.
Grievance when it ain't like what they thought
Grievance arises when reality doesn't match those visions.
When money and respect seemed to elude him
Struggles arise when money and respect are hard to come by.
And being white alone don't make the ladies swoon
Being white alone doesn't guarantee romantic success.
There's no shortage when it comes to hearing voices
There is no shortage of external influences and opinions.
Telling him it's him that's done it too
Voices blaming him for his perceived failures.
Say his trouble with the ladies can't be his fault
Denial of personal responsibility for relationship troubles.
After all he's what it's natural they should want
Assuming that women should naturally desire him.
There's just outside voices turning them against him
External forces turning women against him.
A conspiracy to water down his blood
Belief in a conspiracy to dilute his lineage.
A conspiracy to water down his blood
Repetition for emphasis on the conspiracy.
And it's all the fault of it, or them, or they
Blaming external factors for his perceived problems.
Give a boy a target for his grievance
Providing a target for his grievances intensifies them.
And he might get it in his head they need to pay
Belief that someone must pay for his perceived injustices.
Yeah, giving boys targets for their grievance
Encouraging boys to direct grievances at specific targets.
And then mocking those who bear the pain they cause
Making fun of those affected by the pain they cause.
It takes a certain special kind of something
It requires a particular quality to profit from others' suffering.
To cash the cheque it brings and sweep it off
Taking advantage of the benefits while ignoring the consequences.
The demonizing of the troubled mind
Demonizing those with troubled minds is a common practice.
With all the usual suspects on the scene
The usual suspects participate in stigmatizing mental health.
Merchants selling young men reclamation
People exploit young men's desire for redemption.
Merchants selling old men back their dreams
Elderly individuals are sold back their lost dreams.
Oh, suspended disbelief and wishful thinking
Suspending disbelief and wishful thinking lead to a distorted vision.
Comes the vision of a special hell for con-ers
Imagining a special hell for those who deceive others.
Who sell the marks the doubt it even happened
Deceivers make their targets doubt the reality of their experiences.
An eternity for every tear they've mocked
Each tear mocked by deceivers results in an eternal consequence.
An eternity for every tear they've mocked
Reiteration for emphasis on the eternal consequences.
May the price of freedom finally be their own
May those who impede freedom face the consequences.
May our thought and our prayers keep them company
Offering thoughts and prayers to those suffering alone.
As they wallow in their helplessness alone
Expressing solidarity as individuals face their helplessness.
May our thought and our prayers keep them company
Repetition of thoughts and prayers for those in despair.
As they wallow in their helplessness alone
Continuing solidarity with those grappling with helplessness.
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