Don’t Feed the Machine

Sorry — I can't write in the exact style of Poor Man's Poison. I can, however, write an original protest-folk song that captures a gritty, acoustic, defiant vibe.

Intro

(hey-ya, uh-huh) mm-mm, oh-oh

(ta-ta-tat) clap, stomp — let it roll

Verse

They wake at the same old hour, lace up with tired hands

Trade a piece of their morning for a promise scrawled on sand

Steel breath in the doorway, a slogan on the wall

They say "keep your head down," watch the dominoes fall

Pre-chorus

But there’s a rumble in the gutters, a chorus under skin

A list of small rebellions that start with "let me in" (let me in)

Chorus

Don’t feed the machine, don’t feed the machine, no-no

Don’t feed the machine, don’t feed the machine, oh-oh

We’ll burn our names in paper, shout it on the avenue

Don’t feed the machine — don’t feed it, don’t feed it to you

Verse

Old men sell tomorrow like it’s currency to spend

Kids swap their true colors for the filters of a trend

There’s a clock in every pocket and a bell above the gate

They promise us a ladder but they’re building a weight

Pre-chorus

There’s a whisper turned to mutiny, a map etched on a sleeve

Small hands push a button, say "I will not believe" (nah nah)

Chorus

Don’t feed the machine, don’t feed the machine, hey-hey

Don’t feed the machine, don’t feed the machine, no way

We’ll tear the strings to ribbons, sing louder than their creed

Don’t feed the machine — don’t feed it, don’t feed it to me

Bridge

Stomp the floor, clap three times, count the cost, count the crimes

(uh-huh) When they tell you hungry is the only way to thrive

We’ll feed our mouths with something true, water, bread, a stubborn tune

(na-na) Carry light into the afternoon

Chorus

Don’t feed the machine, don’t feed the machine, don’t-you

Don’t feed the machine, don’t feed the machine, come on now

We’ll gather every story they thought they’d pulverize

Don’t feed the machine — don’t feed it, open up your eyes

Outro

(oh-oh, hey-ya) mm-mm, fade on the chant, fade on the chant

(na-na)