Acres of hopeless spin out from the city
The traffic lights don't work to blink
Three generations of lead poison crazy
Took undernourished to think

Armchair messiahs too scared to drive through here
Somebody's got some explaining to do here

(Oh how they burn) Who put the stars in my eyes?
(Oh how they burn) Who put the stars in my eyes?
(Oh how they burn) How they burn

Don't sweat the grand ‘cause they lie on the stand
And it's only your word against his
Serving, protecting, extortion collecting
But try calling that what it is

Safe in a system that pays by the hour
Who's gonna miss some abuses of power?

Out on the town tonight, cursing my name
Or home alone wondering why
Searching in vain for a shoulder to blame
And hoping that you're not the guy

Losing to win, the survivors prevail
Here in the world of constructive betrayal