Verse 1:
When success is equated with excess
The ambition for excess wrecks us
As the top of the mind becomes the bottom line
When success is equated with excess

Verse 2:
If your time ain’t been nothing for money
I start to feel really bad for your honey
Maybe honey put your money where your mouth’s been running
If your time ain’t been nothing but money

Pre-Chorus:
I want out of this machine
It doesn’t feel like freedom

Chorus:
This ain’t my American dream
I want to live and die for bigger things
I’m tired of fighting for just me
This ain't my American dream

When success is equated with excess
When we’re fighting for the beamer, the lexus
As the heart and soul breathe in the company goals
Where success is equated with excess

I want out of this machine
It doesn’t feel like freedom

Chorus()

Cause baby’s always talkin ‘bout a ring
And talk has always been the cheapest thing
Is it true would you do what I want you to
If I show up with the right amount of bling?

Like a puppet on a monetary string
Maybe we’ve been caught singing
red, white, blue, and green
But that ain’t my America,
That ain’t my American dream

She was a midwestern prom queen
Got her boyfriend headed out West
They ended up in the valley
In a one room apartment
A disconnected phone
Yeah

Now five years later she's single
She's got two kids and a note
And if she gets a moment to herself
She can remember how everything used
To go her way
She says

Where did the time go
When everything was simple and free?
I want to know what happened
Somebody woke me before I could
Have my American Dream

For twenty years he worked corporate
He planned to early retire
His CEO he stole a billion dollars
Now he's working at Denny's
Hoping for a raise
He thinks

Where did the time go
When everything was simple and free?
I want to know what happened
Somebody woke me before I could
Have my American Dream

Yeah, yeah, yeah

I'm a little bit rebel
I'm a bit patriot
I can see they're both sides of the coin
But still it gets a bit rough
Everything is screwed up
I guess it­s just the American way

Sometimes I wonder how you are
You're up in New York City with a family
I think I could have been your guy
It's just a moment in time that is slipping on away

Where did the time go
When everything was simple and free?
I want to know what happened
Somebody woke me before I could have
My American Dream
My American Dream

Yeah, yeah, yeah

She was a midwestern prom queen
Got her boyfriend headed out West

I used to see you
on every T.V.
Your smiling face
looked back at me.
I used to see you
on every T.V.
Your smiling face
looked back at me.
Then they caught you
with the girl next door,
People's money
piled on the floor,
Accusations
that you try to deny,
Revelations
and rumors begin to fly.

Now you think about
reaching out
Maybe get some help
from above.
Now you think about
reaching out
Maybe get some help
from above.
Reporters crowd around
your house.
Going through your garbage
like a pack of hounds,
Speculating what they
may find out,
It don't matter now,
you're all washed up.

You wake up in the middle
of the night.
Your sheets are wet
and your face is white,
You tried to make
a good thing last,
How could something so good,
go bad, so fast?

American dream, American dream
American dream, American dream.

Don't know when
things went wrong,
Might have been when you
were young and strong.
Don't know when
things went wrong,
Might have been when you
were young and strong.
Reporters crowd around
your house.
Going through your garbage
like a pack of hounds,
Speculating what they
may find out,
It don't matter now,
you're all washed up.

Don't know when
things went wrong,
Might have been when you
were young and strong.
American dream, American dream.
Don't know when
things went wrong,
Might have been when you
were young and strong.
American dream, American dream.

It was on a wedding day
When my heart began to stray
Never thought I'd make such a big mistake
Throw my life away

I've gone days without food
I've went weeks without sleep
Keeping this in
I've got cuts I can't close
I've got wounds that won't heal
It's all your fault

I've been shattered and wrecked
My hands covered in blood
Scars on my skin
I forgot how to feel
Now I'm weak with deceit
My skin is paper thin

We get through this
Feeling it, keeping it, holdin' it in
We go through this
Over and over again

I'd go years without tears
In a life with no fear
A life without you
Now I'm breaking my back as
I cover my tracks
My skin is paper thin once again

We get through this
Feeling it, keeping it, holdin' it in
We go through this
Over and over again

I've gone days without food
I've went weeks without sleep
Keeping this in
I've got cuts I can't close
I've got wounds that won't heal
It's all your fault

My American dream
Wasn't ever to lie, steal and cheat
He won't leave her for this
What's the point?
I wish they would die

We get through this
Feeling it, keeping it, holdin' it in
We go through this
Over and over again

We get through this
Feeling it, keeping it, holdin' it in
We go through this
Over and over again

This was not a test
This was all for real
This was not a test
This was all for real
This was not a test
This was all for real
This was not a test
This was all for real

[Chorus:]
Yo we be out man, fukin it up for erbody
I can't lie man, they thought I was just getting started
Keep the tie man, its the amerrican dream
I'm just participating, my participation is game

Yo we be out man, fukin it up for erbody
I can't lie man, they thought I was just getting started
Keep the pie man, its the amerrican dream
I'm just participating, my participation is game

[Nelly:]
Im in this one one for the hotel, motel holidae inn
Super A red and the rits call tins
All my niggaz who tryin to ball, my niggaz ballin
All my sodiers and generals errbody faillin
Stop stallin, pick up the phone and call in
Tell your boss you ain't gon make it to work in the mornin'
And why you explainin' go ahead and throw a coffin
And kindly explain that this won't happen often
But im lost and im amazed im be willing ingaige
I?ll rage that niggaz think that derrty don't need a cage
I should be put on display for the display i displayin
Half you niggaz is dyin and all the rest are decaying
Im doin tracks in motels, steady rockin girls bells
Kinda like a young elvis, I aint in nellyville
I never squeal, not the type to kiss and tell
But if I catch u in the shower I might kiss your tell

[Chorus]

[Ali:]
Now as I blast off, Kweezie writtin movies rollin took that nass off
Mostly leader will be a numba runnas, ass off
I had every with deerty even, got a nascar
And you know we fucked up at it boss
Aiyo my radar read, maps in japanese
Clap at gs smack em back on there E's
Drop on wacks, simple facts that rap needs
And its awlays kris I miss and rap trees
And I got my game, I said I got my game
From the og's, smokin reefer moonshine
Poppin oldies, but the whole plane change
Yo you know me, shipped in from cali got it home
Cops and goldies, then we smash some ass
Free autotericoop call nasa to do the numbers
All the freshman from the vocals started firin? the booth
Got more whips and chains, then im a start in roots

[Kyjuan:]
Ali I?m sick of ballin, unnecessary phone callin
Man down pimp in distress, I think I?m fallin
For anything but the okie doke, Im old school
Like her and bonz and nukee ropes I cant stand them groupie folks
They want me to turn around like this is hokie poke
They want to break me down like erv before I choke
Im not a jack at all im quick draw mcgraw
And number 20 on the lakers couldn?t hold me yahl
Im climbin over yahl im still scorin
85 percent of yahl awake but still snoring
Got knowledge yourself and now my style is much older now
We derrty ent we all we got we hold it down
I?m feelin cooler than cool, my wrist colder wow
If theres a fashion king then I deserve the crown
Im u city, you dressin up im dresisn down
And u keep messin up, me and your girl gon be messin around

[Chorus]

[Murphy Lee:]

Aiyo im fresh out the gate, from the Lou with a grammy in my rezzie
Nelly bought me a prezzie with a diamond in the bezzie
Chicks taugh me how to walk, so when I run I?ll be ready
Females fans sayin that im there baby daddy WHOA
More attention then Justin and Janet
How I Midwest swing and how St Louis ram it
Deerty ent dammit, got more bread than a sandwich
And my writst got more nuggets than Carmello and Camby
Look, I?m from the Lou and I?m important like the arts
So tours look for me like an important part
Find your talent use your talent get your money
Or don?t find your talent and don?t use it and stay bummy
But that don?t owe me cause I built it from scratch
My next shit is a house with a house in the back
Man I?m been while since middle school
I was that little dude that been round more waist lines than hoola hoops

[Chorus]

One revolution turning around, grace under pressure, but don't make a sound
Our house is divided, but together we stand
One constitution goin' hand to hand

Here's to you, red and yellow, black and white
Once the daylight turned to night
We're not as bold as we may seem, we're looking for the American dream

Yes, American dream

Some people hiding, they do underground, sex as an issue in every dead town
Trading in secrets and dealing in lies
Living is easy when you close your eyes

[Chorus:]

Here's to you, red and yellow, black and white
Join the daylight, return to night
We're not as bold as we may seem, we're looking for the American dream
[Solo]

[chorus] - looking for the American dream, yeah

Looking for the American dream, the American dream
And we're not as bold as we may seem, American dream
We're looking for the American dream... [to fade]

I hate my family, hate my school, speed limits and the golden rule.
Hate people who aren't what they seem, more than anything else, American Dream.
American Dream's gonna swallow you whole, it's bursting at the seam,
It'll sweep you away, so enjoy it today, tomorrow you'll be old thus useless.
American Dream... American Dream....
American Dream, that's ok, 'cause no one dare give you away.
I hate my job, I hate your god, I hate hypocrites and common slobs.
Hate people who aren't what they seem, more than anything else, American Dream.
Promise me today I'll have a Chevrolet, with whitewalls on the side,
One boy, one girl, comfortable lies
The American Dream... American Dream...
American Dream, that's ok, 'cause no one dare give you away.
American Dream!
(bleah!)

I'll confess tonight your all thats on my mind
I know these roof top nights could last forever.
we watched the seasons change, we saw the distance pull us away,
from all we shared together.

Right now is all we have you better make this count
these are the moments i wish i could forget you.

I think back to the nights I looked into your bright green eyes and you said,
lets run away.
its 9am the sun wont rise for 3 more hours pacific time you said
lets run away.

I picked apart every word that you said
I dissected each sentence but kept coming up empty
the way you are leaves me counting the days
till the next time this distance will be a memory

Right now is all we have you better make this count
these are the moments i wish i could forget you.

I think back to the nights I looked into your bright green eyes and you said,
lets run away.
its 9am the sun wont rise for 3 more hours pacific time you said
lets run away.

where have you been

I think back to the nights I looked into your bright green eyes and you said,
lets run away.
its 9am the sun wont rise for 3 more hours pacific time you said
lets run away

I used to see you
on every T.V.
Your smiling face
looked back at me.
I used to see you
on every T.V.
Your smiling face
looked back at me.
Then they caught you
with the girl next door,
People's money
piled on the floor,
Accusations
that you try to deny,
Revelations
and rumors begin to fly.

Now you think about
reaching out
Maybe get some help
from above.
Now you think about
reaching out
Maybe get some help
from above.
Reporters crowd around
your house.
Going through your garbage
like a pack of hounds,
Speculating what they
may find out,
It don't matter now,
you're all washed up.

You wake up in the middle
of the night.
Your sheets are wet
and your face is white,
You tried to make
a good thing last,
How could something so good,
go bad, so fast?

American dream, American dream
American dream, American dream.

Don't know when
things went wrong,
Might have been when you
were young and strong.
Don't know when
things went wrong,
Might have been when you
were young and strong.
Reporters crowd around
your house.
Going through your garbage
like a pack of hounds,
Speculating what they
may find out,
It don't matter now,
you're all washed up.

Don't know when
things went wrong,
Might have been when you
were young and strong.
American dream, American dream.
Don't know when
things went wrong,
Might have been when you
were young and strong.
American dream, American dream.

Things you can't deny you best believe it when everything you wanted is gone
Struck down although you don't like it nothing of value to be found
Violence breeds violence you know we'll never stop it for progress we will protect the game
We struck the fuse you can't refuse it the memory is all that will remain
The political scene coming apart at the seams
Its the end of the American Dream
The temperature is ready to burst
The future is not what it seems for the American Dream
Time has come you know we can't stop it
You know that the end is drawing near
Knocked down the sound of it collapsing
So loud no one can hear
Mindless old tyrants
do you hear the sirens song that will herald your demise
excessive sessions on your transgressions
we're all left sifting through the lies

Last time I saw you, you had dirt under your nails
Your eyes were glassy and you looked so pale
You said my life has become a livin' hell
Ain't got enough money to pay my bills

Everything is wrong
Everything is wrong

Got a friend with a needle stuck in his arm
He got hooked on heroin in Vietnam
It used to help kill the pain some of the time
Now I can't sleep at all since I got back home

I worked in the strip mines off and on
Now I can't seem to get rid of this cough
Ain't been many jobs these last few months
And the last one I had I got laid off

I ain't got no hot water and they shut off the heat
Can you loan me some money for something to eat
Been out here on this corner for about a week
Tryin hard to stand on my own two feet

They want to try and tell me where I can live
They kicked me off my land and told me they'd give me
A nice little tract house with running water
But how am I gonna explain that to my Navaho mother

My American dream almost came true
But the things they promised me never came through
I believe in the American dream
But things are never quite what they seem

Everything is wrong
Everything is wrong
Everything is wrong
Everything is wrong

All work no play may have made Jack a dull boy
But all work no God has left Jack with a lost soul
But he's moving on full steam
He's chasing the American dream
And he's gonna give his family finer things

“Not this time son I've no time to waste
Maybe tomorrow we'll have time to play
And then he slips into his new BMW
And drives farther and farther and farther away

Cause he works all day and tries to sleep at night
He says things will get better
Better in time

CHORUS:
So he works and he builds with his own two hands
And he pours all he has in a castle made with sand
But the wind and the rain are comin' crashing in
Time will tell just how long his kingdom stands
His kingdom stands

Well his American Dream is beginning to seem
More and more like a nightmare
With every passing day
Daddy, can you come to my game?
Oh Baby, please don't work late.
Another wasted weekend
And they are slipping away

'Cause he works all day and lies awake at night
He tells them things are getting better
Just take a little more time

CHORUS:
So he works and he builds with his own two hands
And he pours all he has in a castle made with sand
But the wind and the rain are comin' crashing in
Time will tell just how long his kingdom stands
His kingdom stands

He used to say, Whoever dies with the most toys wins
But if he loses his soul, what has he gained in the end
I'll take a shack on the rock
Over a castle in the sand

Now he works all day and cries alone at night
It's not getting any better
Looks like he's running out of time

'Cause he worked and he built with his own two hands
And he poured all he had in a castle made with sand
But the wind and the rain are coming crashing in
Time will tell just how long his kingdom stands
His kingdom stands

All he really wanted was You
All he really wanted was You
All he really wanted was You

I was born here on a winter’s day
But many people come from far away
To live in peace and true equality
And feel the strong wind of democracy
I see a vision of the Promised Land
A place where everybody has a chance
To build a home we are proud to know
And give respect to those who made it so
We strive to keep the dream alive
For you and I to realize
Chorus:
American Dream
We speak our minds
And fight to keep our dream alive
The proud and the free is who we are
We’ll stand together we’ve come this far
From coast to coast and to the mountains high
The beauty of our sovereign nation shines
From the hearts of every countryman
Into the yearning minds of our children
For the hungry world we plant the seeds
Giving hope to those who really need
And send our soldiers off foreign lands
To defend the rights of those who cant
We strive to keep the dream alive
For you and I to realize
Chorus
For every faith, and all beliefs
On every city and small town street
All our colors blend to one
But these colors will never run
American dream, like a light
That keeps on shining through the darkest night
The home of the brave the land of the free
To share this opportunity
Cause this is the American Dream
To live our lives
To see our destiny arise
The proud and the free
We speak our minds
And strive to keep our dreams alive
The American dream