This Stuff Is Impossible

Lyrics

[Intro] [Instrumental] [Verse 1] I filled out forms till the coffee went cold They want five years’ experience for a job that pays four My rent eats Friday, my train eats the rest And the ladder’s got a velvet rope bolted across its chest [Pre-Chorus] They say, “It’s who you know”—well, I don’t want the tour I’ve met enough people to know what I’m in for [Verse 2] A handshake, a brunch, another name to retain A smiling little favor with a fee hidden in the frame I could fake the small talk, learn the approved grin But every door says “network” and I’m not letting them in [Pre-Chorus] They say, “Play the game”—I can read the fine print The rules keep moving every time that I’m in [Chorus] This stuff is impossible! Climb one rung, they move the whole wall This stuff is impossible! Pay your dues, then they charge you them all I want a decent life, not a seat at their table This stuff is impossible! But I’m still here, still loud, still able [Verse 3] The boss knows a cousin who knows somebody’s son The interview’s over before the questions are done I’ve got scuffed-up shoes and a stack of “not yet” And a head full of plans they haven’t managed to tax yet [Pre-Chorus] They say, “Be grateful”—I say, “For what exactly?” A shrinking little paycheck and a promise they’ll forget me [Chorus] This stuff is impossible! Climb one rung, they move the whole wall This stuff is impossible! Pay your dues, then they charge you them all I want a decent life, not a seat at their table This stuff is impossible! But I’m still here, still loud, still able [Guitar Solo] [Instrumental] [Bridge] Maybe I don’t want their favors or their friends Maybe I want a fair shot that doesn’t depend On laughing at a joke I hate, pretending we’re alike I’ll take the long way up before I learn to beg right [Breakdown] No golden ticket! No back-room pass! No “call my buddy”! I’ll outlast this class! [Pre-Chorus] They say, “It’s who you know”—I know what I can do If the door stays locked, I’ll make another route through [Chorus] This stuff is impossible! Climb one rung, they move the whole wall This stuff is impossible! Pay your dues, then they charge you them all I want a decent life, not a seat at their table This stuff is impossible! But I’m still here, still loud, still able [Outro] Still here! Still loud! Still able! [Hard stop]