About the song
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Words from the artist’s archive
GOVERNMENT RENT 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
Echoes in the block, whisper laws of the land, Every nation got a tax, but America’s brand, Started raw, no chains, land free in the dawn, Now we pay for the dirt that we’re standin’ on.
Verse 1
Back in the colonies, no property tag, Land was the flex, your name on the flag, Feudal old Europe taxed farmers to bleed, Here they swore different, land meant you freed. But time turned cold, government grew, Needed revenue, soldiers, roads too, 1798, first tax hit the streets, Property the anchor, the people on beat.
Chorus
Why I pay tax on a house I own? Feels like the crown still sit on the throne, Bought it with blood, still cut me a slice, Freedom got rent, and the rent got a price. Year after year, stack on my plate, Owning my land but the state in the gate, Property tax, man it don’t make sense, Dollar by dollar, it’s government rent.
Verse 2
Civil War time, they doubled it down, Needed the cash to keep soldiers around, Great Depression hit, pockets ran dry, People screamed loud, but the tax didn’t die. Tried to revolt, movements to stop, But states said nah, gotta keep the shop, Schools, cops, lights in the street, Property payin’ for the city heartbeat.
Bridge
You can buy, you can build, but you never full own, Gov hold the title with invisible throne, Pay up yearly, or they take it back, Generational wealth on a government track. Other lands too, but America’s game, Built on the promise, then taxed it the same, Dream turn costly, system in play, Property yours—till you late on the pay.
Chorus
Why I pay tax on a house I own? Feels like the crown still sit on the throne, Bought it with blood, still cut me a slice, Freedom got rent, and the rent got a price. Year after year, stack on my plate, Owning my land but the state in the gate, Property tax, man it don’t make sense, Dollar by dollar, it’s government rent.
Outro
From the start till today, story been told, Liberty wrapped in a tax to hold, Land of the free, but the meter still run, Property tax in the land of the gun.
Inside the recording
Echoes in the block, whisper laws of the land, Every nation got a tax, but America’s brand,
Why I pay tax on a house I own? Feels like the crown still sit on the throne,
From the start till today, story been told, Liberty wrapped in a tax to hold,
Excerpts from artist-supplied lyric files matched by title. Lyric sheets may differ from the released performance.