Scroll Tax

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Scroll Tax lyrics

Artist-supplied lyric sheet, matched by title. The sheet may differ from this released performance. Production notes and alternate promotional cuts are omitted.

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Intro

They want the whole you for free, nah

Verse 1

Ring light hot on my face at 2 AM, fourth take Phone propped on a stack of textbooks, screen about to break Yesterday's numbers dipped so I changed the thumbnail twice Filmed three hooks before my shift, skipped breakfast, called it sacrifice Roommate thinks I'm sleeping but I'm cutting clips in bed Drafts folder looking like a graveyard full of things I never said Somebody commented "you fell off" and I believed it for a sec Posted anyway 'cause silence feels like cardiac arrest

Pre-chorus

Every morning I check the stats before I check my own pulse Something's gotta give and I'm scared it's gonna be my soul

Chorus

Scroll tax, scroll tax, they don't see what it cost Every like is a little bit of me that I lost Scroll tax, scroll tax, paid it 'til I'm a ghost They get the clip but they never get close Nah, nah

Verse 2

Brand hit my DMs, where's the content, need three by Friday Ain't slept right since the last one popped, my girl say I'm grimy Friends text "always on but never here," I leave 'em on read Changed my fit four times for a Reel then wore sweats to bed One bad post and my whole mood's wrecked, I'm snapping at my moms Canceled dinner for a trending sound that died before the song Analytics page is my horoscope, I read it like it's scripture Algorithm smiles back like it's posing for the picture

Pre-chorus

Every morning I check the stats before I check my own pulse Something's gotta give and I'm praying it ain't what I love most

Chorus

Scroll tax, scroll tax, they don't see what it cost Every like is a little bit of me that I lost Scroll tax, scroll tax, paid it 'til I'm a ghost They get the clip but they never get close

Verse 3

Remember when I used to post just stupid stuff for laughs No metrics, no brand kit, just me and the camera flash Homies jumped in every clip without negotiating splits Now they text "what's in it for me" before they even sit I ignored the headaches and the eye twitch for a month Told myself the feed don't sleep so why should I want some

Bridge

Missed my sister's recital 'cause I had to post a clip Phone died on the ride home, I sat there in the dark The app never once said thank you The app never once said stop When I logged off for a day nobody even noticed

Verse 4

That quiet hit different, like cold water on a burn Screen time said nine hours, I felt sick at what I earned Started asking what I'd post if zero people saw it And the answer wasn't nothing but it wasn't what I'm drawing Texted back my girl for real, not just a heart react to send My value's not a dashboard and my reach ain't my worth

Verse 5

Now I schedule posts like medicine, two a week is plenty Take walks without filming them, my camera roll is empty Found a smaller crowd that knows my name, no algorithm thing Still creating, still uploading, but the leash is in my hands Your attention is your money, stop donating it for free The scroll tax doesn't stop until you decide the fee

Chorus

Scroll tax, scroll tax, they don't see what it cost Every like is a little bit of me that I lost Scroll tax, scroll tax, paid it 'til I'm a ghost They get the clip but they never get close Scroll tax, scroll tax

Outro

Check your screen time, then check yourself

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01 / The opening