Entitlement
Defying Expectations: Jack White's Anthem Against Entitlement
Lyrics
Every time I'm doing what I want to
Expressing frustration about interference when doing what one desires.
Somebody comes and tells me it's wrong
Highlighting the recurrence of being told one's actions are wrong.
Whenever I'm doing just as I please
Describing the act of pursuing personal desires without constraints.
Somebody cuts me down to my knees
Facing criticism or opposition that brings one to a vulnerable state.
Yeah, somebody cuts me down to my knees
Reiterating the impact of external forces bringing one down.
In a time when everybody feels entitled
Observing a widespread sense of entitlement in the current time.
Why can't I feel entitled too?
Questioning why the speaker can't also feel entitled like others.
Somebody took away my god given right
Expressing the loss of a perceived inherent right.
I guess God must have gave it to you
Suggesting that someone else may have received the lost right.
Yeah, I guess God must have slipped it to you
Humorously speculating that God accidentally gave the right to someone else.
Stop what you're doing and get back in line
Encountering a command to conform and follow societal expectations.
I hear this from people all the time
Commonly hearing the demand to fall in line from others.
If we can't be happy then you can't be too
Reflecting on the idea that others don't want anyone to be happy if they aren't.
I'm tired of being told what to do
Expressing weariness of being dictated on how to live.
Yeah, I'm sick of being told what to do
Conveying discontent with the continuous imposition of rules.
There are children today who were lied to
Addressing the younger generation being misled about entitlement.
Told the world is rightfully there's
Pointing out the false belief that the world inherently belongs to them.
They can have what they want, whenever they want
Noting the entitled attitude of taking without consideration.
They take like Caesar and nobody cares
Comparing their behavior to that of Caesar, indicating disregard for consequences.
Live like Caesar and nobody cares
Reinforcing the lack of concern for consequences when living like Caesar.
I can't bring myself to take without penance
Expressing a personal inability to take without moral consequences.
Or atonement or respect from my brow[?]
Mentioning the need for penance, atonement, or respect for one's actions.
Though the world may be spoiled and getting worse every day
Commenting on the perceived deterioration of the world, despite one's moral stance.
Don't they feel like they're cheated somehow
Questioning why others who act without morality might feel cheated.
I feel like I've been cheated somehow
Expressing a personal sense of being cheated despite moral behavior.
Stop what you're doing and get back in line
Repeating the command to stop and conform to societal expectations.
I hear this from people all the time
Reiterating the common demand to fall in line from others.
If we can't be happy then you can't be too
Reflecting on the notion that others want everyone to be equally unhappy.
I'm tired of being told what to do
Expressing weariness of external control over personal choices.
Yeah, I'm sick of being told what to do
Conveying discontent with continuous external influence on life choices.
I guess nobody on earth is entitled
Challenging the idea that anyone on Earth is inherently entitled.
Not mothers, not children, not kings
Asserting that entitlement is not reserved for mothers, children, or kings.
Not a one single person on God's golden shore
Stating that no one on Earth is entitled to anything.
Is entitled to one single thing
Emphasizing the idea that entitlement is undeserved for anyone.
We don't deserve a single damn thing
Rejecting the notion that anyone deserves a single thing.
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