The Reporter
Chronicles of a Midnight Scribe: Unveiling Society's Shadows
Lyrics
The reporter doesn't sleep
The reporter experiences sleep deprivation.
Has to file, in a week
He has a deadline to meet within a week.
His most robust and no doubt controversial piece
He is working on a substantial and likely controversial article for the daily newspaper.
For the daily
This piece is intended for daily publication.
Well, at the budget meeting last
During a budget meeting, he presented a headline questioning the city's actions and reported three additional deaths.
He'd set forth a proto head
He introduced a preliminary headline.
"What is our city smoking?" And below it
The headline questions the city's actions, followed by a statement about three more deaths.
"Three more dead"
He is remarkable in his reporting skills.
He was amazing
Repetition emphasizing his amazing reporting abilities.
Simply amazing
-So amazing
-Well, he's been cooking dusty coffee
Describes the reporter making coffee in his dimly lit kitchen and experiencing visions of sources he has encountered.
In his dusk-lit kitchenette
-When he squints, he sees the ghosts
-Of all the sources he has met
-A sovereign citizen named Rand
Introduces individuals he has reported on, including a sovereign citizen named Rand, a war veteran with one hand, a junkie queen named Patrice, and her code orange niece.
Returned from war with just one hand
-Then that junkie queen Patrice
-With her little code orange niece
-For whom the state would name a law
-At which the townies would guffaw
-As the reporter slumps down
The reporter is overwhelmed and frustrated, physically expressing his distress against the wall.
And beats his head against the wall
-In November, at his folks', dodging every friendly joke
In November, at his family's home, he reflects on feeling unsuccessful in his writing, admitting his work is becoming repetitive.
He admits he thinks his copy's getting hacky and he's failing
-But lo! His uncle thinks he's cool
Despite his self-doubt, his uncle praises him, considering him a hero of journalism school and a neoliberal figure for a troubled generation.
The noble product of j-school
-A neoliberal hero for a generation of shaken babies
-Oh, baby
Repetition of expressions like "Oh, baby" emphasizing the significance of his uncle's approval.
Whoa, baby
-Whoa, baby
-Well, he's discerning with his Moleskines
Details about the reporter's lifestyle, habits, and relationships, expressing the challenges and aspirations of his journalistic career.
He never picks one color twice
-(Picks one color twice)
-And he eats a modest dinner
-Made of pinto beans and rice
-(Pinto beans and rice)
-They know him at the town hall
-And they hate him there at night
-(Hate him there at night)
-And he wonders if he'll ever
-Pop the cork on that new wine
-(Cork on that new wine)
-Or if he'll one day leave this suburb
-To work the spin room for the Times
-Where he'll prod those nasty senators
-'til one shoves him out of line
-It's the long game for a book deal
-And a shot at the prime time
-But until then, he sits alone and types
The reporter is currently working alone, typing, with an uncertain future but hopeful for a book deal and prime time exposure.
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