Clock In, Black Out

Lyrics

Intro
Fluorescent halo
Coffee stain teeth
Name tag armor
March to the beep (hey!)

Verse 1
Alarm clock barking in my skull
I’m half a ghost in wrinkled clothes
Same cracked mug, same chipped bowl
Breakfast is another dose of “do what you’re told”

Swipe card, dead stare, sliding through the turnstile
Boss man grin got fangs in the profile
Says “we’re family” while he checks my file
I’m just a barcode feeding his crocodile

They sell us dreams on a plastic screen
“Work real hard, you can join the team”
But the ladder missing half the rungs it seems
And every step up just bleeds my seams

Chorus
Nine to five, you’re draining me dry
Clock in, clock out, watch my heart flatline
You take my time, my spine, my shine
This soul-sucking grind, yeah, it’s killing me by design
Nine to five, I’m fading inside
You chew me up, spit me out, then smile
Give me pennies for a lifetime on file
This soul-sucking company, feeding on my life

Verse 2
Lunch break prison on a plastic chair
Brown bag hopes, cold air, blank stares
Everybody laughing but it’s thin and scared
Eyes all saying, “Man, we’re barely there”

They hang cheap plaques on the hallway wall
“Employee of the month” like a golden call
But the winner still broke, still dodging calls
Just a tired face in a bathroom stall

They cut our hours, then they cut our pay
Then they cut the lights on the exit ways
Tell us “loyalty” in a thousand ways
While they trade our sweat for a beach house stay

Chorus
Nine to five, you’re draining me dry
Clock in, clock out, watch my heart flatline
You take my time, my spine, my shine
This soul-sucking grind, yeah, it’s killing me by design
Nine to five, I’m fading inside
You chew me up, spit me out, then smile
Give me pennies for a lifetime on file
This soul-sucking company, feeding on my life

Bridge
[Half-time beat drops, vocal through megaphone]
How much is a heartbeat worth?
How many checks buy back my nerves?
How long till my name tag’s dirt?
How long till I scream, “I deserve… better”?

Beat slams back in
I’m more than a seat in a numbered row
More than a “yes” on your morning roll
You can keep your crumbs, I want back my soul
Rip this badge off, walk out that door (hey!)

Chorus
Nine to five, you’re draining me dry
Clock in, clock out, watch my heart flatline
You take my time, my spine, my shine
This soul-sucking grind, yeah, it’s killing me by design
Nine to five, I’m done with this lie
You chewed me up, spit me out, that’s fine
I’m taking back every minute of mine
This soul-sucking company
Won’t get the rest of my life (no way)