About the song
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Words from the artist’s archive
SAME OLD GAME 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 shake your hand at the rally, forget your face by the fall Candlelight and quill pens built the game that plays us all Same old promises dripping from a new set of lips Same old game, yeah, same old game, they just switched the script
Verse 1
Started in a tavern, farmers arguing 'bout roads Loudest voice with free time got elected for the load Washington ain't even want it, dragged him to the throne Wrote 'bout freedom by the candle, had a whole plantation home Liberty and chains coexisting in the same estate Contradictions in the Constitution, what a heavy weight Now they call it public service but the public barely served Forty years in that same seat, forgot what they deserved
Pre-chorus
TV showed up, now you need the money Donors lining up, ain't nothing funny They ain't giving millions for the people's sake They buying seats at tables that we'll never make
Chorus
Same old game, different jersey on They fight on camera, then the dinner bell is rung Same old game, watch 'em play us wrong We just tryna live, but they been here too long
Verse 2
Potholes so deep they swallowed my tire last week That's a budget they decided while I'm barely makin' ends meet Mama can't afford the insulin, bill died in committee VA lost my uncle's papers thrice, ain't that a pity Water tastin' funny but they say it passed the test School ain't got the books but got metal detectors, blessed Factory moved overseas, senator got the check Trained my own replacement, where's the respect?
Pre-chorus
Vote for the one who said he'd save the jobs Jobs came back paying half, ain't that odd? Vote for better healthcare, premiums still climb Start to wonder if my ballot's worth a dime
Chorus
Same old game, different jersey on They fight on camera, then the dinner bell is rung Same old game, watch 'em play us wrong We just tryna live, but they been here too long
Bridge
Grandma voted every year since '62 Said people died so she could fill that ballot too Kid registering voters in the summer heat Still believes the math can change if enough show up to compete
Verse 3
Perot in '92 made the majors sweat Nader, Tea Party, Occupy—fire then forget Outsiders get crushed or become the machine Same marble halls, different name on the screen Yard signs fading in the sun like gravestones for hope Campaign bus rolling through, making promises to folk Gone before the coffee's cold, never coming back But we still here, still breathing, still on the attack
Bridge
Congressman posting Bible verses Sunday morn Monday afternoon he cut the lunch program, sworn Watch worth more than what a working family earn But we see through the smoke, it's finally our turn
Chorus
Same old game, different jersey on They fight on camera, then the dinner bell is rung Same old game, watch 'em play us wrong We just tryna live, but they been here too long
Chorus
Same old game, different jersey on They fight on camera, then the dinner bell is rung Same old game, but we too strong We still here, still breathing, still holding on
Outro
They made the game, rigged the rules we play Told us we was free, any time of day But one drop in the ocean still can make a wave Same old game... but we ain't slaves
Inside the recording
They shake your hand at the rally, forget your face by the fall Candlelight and quill pens built the game that plays us all
TV showed up, now you need the money Donors lining up, ain't nothing funny
They made the game, rigged the rules we play Told us we was free, any time of day
Excerpts from artist-supplied lyric files matched by title. Lyric sheets may differ from the released performance.