Set Me Up
Breaking Chains: Unmasking the Illusions of Exclusivity
Lyrics
Right in front of me dropping another game
Expressing betrayal and deception, someone close is playing games.
Now I watch your face as your eyes look down
Observing the person's reaction as they avoid eye contact.
Away from my glance
Noticing avoidance and evasion in the person's behavior.
Backstabbed as I hear the cracks drop smack
Feeling betrayed and hurt as cracks in the relationship become apparent.
I count the ways your little whispers swell to greet my daze
Counting the ways the person's deceitful words affect the speaker.
Underground, so down, your scene above me
Feeling beneath the person and their social scene.
But now I see so clearly
Realizing the truth and gaining clarity about the situation.
I'm not down, I never could be
Asserting that the speaker is not defeated or submissive.
And it's long past time for me to show you
Indicating a readiness to confront and reveal the true self.
Speak my mind in response to your condescending way
Expressing the need to speak up against condescension.
Of placing me below your feet
Conveying the feeling of being belittled and devalued.
"It's not what you know, it's who you know"
Highlighting the importance of connections in the social hierarchy.
But all I know now is you live for the show"
Realizing that the person prioritizes appearances over authenticity.
Smiles in my face with smirks in your eyes
Noting the contrast between outward friendliness and underlying mockery.
And I understand what it means to be
Understanding the criteria for acceptance in the person's eyes.
"Legit" in your eyes, not I
Acknowledging the speaker's lack of legitimacy in the eyes of the person.
Nor none of my "attempts" to be on the inside
Expressing the futility of attempts to fit into the person's exclusive circle.
I'm not down, I never could be
Reiterating a refusal to be submissive or conform.
And it's time, this time I'll show you
Emphasizing determination to assert individuality and truth.
Set me up
Challenging the person to manipulate or deceive the speaker.
Knocked down
Acknowledging being knocked down or rejected by the person's group.
Knocked down from your clique, you
Highlighting the impact of rejection and exclusion on the speaker.
Understand how you rejected me
Understanding the reasons behind the person's rejection.
I look at your face and weep for your "scene"
Expressing empathy for the person's superficial and shallow social scene.
So I ask myself what needs to be said
Reflecting on the need to articulate thoughts and feelings.
What now, what light can I shed?
Pondering the appropriate response and insight to offer.
As I battle to fight down the angry thought
Struggling with anger and negative thoughts, seeking to control them.
That's swelling to escape my head
Describing the intense emotions that the speaker is trying to suppress.
So it's plain as day and you can see
Asserting the right to explain oneself and be heard.
that I have a right to explain my self to you
Encouraging the person to pay attention and listen.
So don't look away or turn away or laugh away
Warning against dismissive behavior or mockery.
Because your "scene" is dead today
Declaring the demise of the person's exclusive social scene.
We can't bring ourselves back down to this level
Rejecting the idea of lowering oneself to the person's level.
Because you are no better than me
Asserting equality and rejecting a hierarchical mindset.
Down with all that took us away from standing as one and living as one
Denouncing divisive forces that separate people and communities.
Am I so different from you that you cannot dispel with your status
Questioning the perceived differences that lead to unequal treatment.
and look at my face?
Challenging the person to see beyond social status and prejudices.
Am I so distant from you that I cannot break free from this stereotype today?
Expressing the desire to break free from stereotypes and judgments.
Am I so separate from you that you cannot regard me as equal
Questioning the person's ability to recognize and treat others as equals.
and clean this stain?
Urging the person to acknowledge and rectify the harm caused.
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