Like a shot without a warning Lies a life that's left behind And though I try, it's something I just can't unsee It's burned into my mind And I wake up in the morning News keeps flashing on my eyes These dying streets are bruised and beaten And riot flags are waving Poor and weak, we extend this streak These lives we could be saving Life is cheap, I sit and weep 'Cause there's just no mistaking
Oh, this is not Utopia The roots of America Are the roots of hysteria The rules don't matter anymore This is not utopia The roots of America Are the roots of hysteria And you don't matter anymore
The better angels of our nature Well, they've gone away to hide Brutality I can't unsee These pictures are just burned into my mind It's commotion in slow motion It's humanity denied A violent race, punch in the face With all this hate how can we all survive?
And if a change is coming What makes it take so long? And if a change is coming Why sing the same old song?
This is not Utopia The roots of America Are the roots of hysteria The rules don't matter anymore This is not utopia The roots of America The roots of hysteria And you don't matter anymore
This is not Utopia The roots of America Are the roots of hysteria And you don't matter anymore This is not utopia
So how long must we wait? Until love conquers hate? And heal these hearts 'Cause it all starts right here