The Price of Gold

There's a boy on the corner with holes in his shoes,
Dreamin’ of bread while the rich sip their brews.
Mama works two jobs, still can’t pay the rent,
While suits toss coins like they don't know what hunger meant.

They build their towers high into the sky,
Blind to the voices they leave behind to die.
Sayin’ “pull yourself up,” while they cut the rope,
Watchin’ us drown with a smile full of hope.

Oh, the price of gold ain't just in coin,
It's in backs that break, and hearts worn thin.
While they feast in halls of marble and wine,
We bleed in silence just waitin’ in line.
Yeah, the weight of greed is a heavy toll —
But the poorest man still holds his soul.

They write the laws, then sell them too,
Justice blind, but she winks on cue.
Preachin’ “freedom,” but it’s not for all,
It costs too much if you were born to crawl.

(Bridge)
I’ve seen preachers pray with diamond rings,
While the church roof leaks when the choir sings.
And they teach us peace, but sell us guns,
Then wonder why we bury sons.

Oh, the price of gold burns through the land,
Leaves nothin’ but dust in a beggar’s hand.
But no crown forged from greed will ever last —
The wind still howls for every outcast.
Yeah, they may own the streets and steal the rain…
But they’ll never buy away the pain.

And when the fire comes to cleanse their throne,
We’ll sing this blues…
for every broken bone.