Ain’t Built For Us

[Verse 1 – solo vocal, heavy stomp beat underneath]
They got gold pens and pension plans,
We got busted knuckles and sunburned hands.
They vote raises behind closed doors,
We patch our boots and sweep their floors.
Ain’t been one of ‘em broke in years,
But they talk like they still bleed sweat and tears.
We build the roads, they raise the toll —
And call it freedom while they tax our soul.
[Chorus – gang vocal, chain rhythm, claps and stomps]
This country ain’t built for us — never was, never been.
They preach red, white, and blue, but they sell it for a win.
We fight for scraps, they toast with wine,
We dig the ditches, they draw the line.
And we’re done. You hear? We’re done pretendin’.
‘Cause the chain’s gettin’ heavy and the road ain’t endin’.
[Verse 2 – more aggressive delivery, tighter rhythm]
Congress sleeps while we work nights,
They sell our futures in soundbites.
Send our taxes to foreign lands,
While our towns crumble in their hands.
Say it’s “for the people,” then dodge the blame,
But none of them can spell our name.
We ain't poor ‘cause we don’t try —
We’re poor ‘cause they bleed us dry.
[Bridge – group chant, call and response]
Who feeds the kids?
We do.
Who builds the grid?
We do.
Who keeps the lights on when they fail?
The same damn ones they’d throw in jail.
[Final Chorus – louder, stomp harder, spit fire]
This country ain’t built for us — it’s built on our backs.
They get bonuses, we get the tax.
We ain’t askin’ — we’re takin’ the mic,
Tired of beggin’ just to live right.
If they won’t fix it, we might tear it down…
And build a country that don’t kick us ‘round.
[Outro – slow, stomps fade, final spoken line]
The stars and stripes still wave,
But the hands holdin’ it?
They ain’t calloused.

Chain-Gang American Folk Protest