About the song
A story for this song hasn’t been added yet.
Words from the artist’s archive
The Utility Equation lyrics
Artist-supplied lyric sheet, matched by title. The sheet may differ from this released performance. Production notes and alternate promotional cuts are omitted.
Read the lyric sheet
Intro
The stage is set with velvet and a smile But knives are sharpening in every aisle Don't trust the surface of the quiet lake The mirrors ripple for the hunter's sake
Verse 1
They paint their loyalty in neon bright And whisper secrets in the fading light But check the exits when the room gets cold The warmest hand is often bought and sold The flatterer is just a fox in silk Drinking honey while they spill your milk Passive sabotage in every "yes" A masterclass in social chess and stress
Pre-chorus
The mask is slipping from the painted face Vague support won't help you win the race When the storm hits, see who stays around Or leaves you sinking in the hollow ground
Chorus
Stop asking who likes you today Ask who needs you in their way Loyalty's a ghost, a fading spark Utility's the light within the dark
Verse 2
I play the fox and walk the jagged line And plant the decoy in the grapevine vine I watch the leak and see where water flows To find the weakness that the traitor shows Strategic distance is my armor now I wipe the sweat from every faking brow Unplug the wires from the inner ring And let the silence be the song I sing
Bridge
Opacity is how I keep the crown Unpredictable so I don't drown No single gatekeeper can hold my breath I dance with logic in the face of death
Verse 3
I build a network based on mutual gain Where your success is woven in my chain They won't betray the hand that feeds the fire When interest is the only true desire Stay calm when shadows try to pull the thread Control the story that the masses fed Extract the data from the broken vow I'm the strategist, I'm ruling now
Chorus
Stop asking who likes you today Ask who needs you in their way Loyalty's a ghost, a fading spark Utility's the light within the dark
Bridge
The fickle heart will always run for cover The strategist will outlast every lover I see the trap before the teeth can bite I turn the darkness into leverage light
Chorus
Stop asking who likes you today Ask who needs you in their way Loyalty's a ghost, a fading spark Utility's the light within the dark
Chorus
Stop asking who likes you today Ask who needs you in their way Loyalty's a ghost, a fading spark Utility's the light within the dark
Outro
The mask is off, the game is won Precision rules when all is done Outlast the fakes, the pretenders too Logic is the only thing that's true
Inside the recording
The stage is set with velvet and a smile But knives are sharpening in every aisle
The mask is slipping from the painted face Vague support won't help you win the race
The mask is off, the game is won Precision rules when all is done
Excerpts from artist-supplied lyric files matched by title. Lyric sheets may differ from the released performance.