Drive-By Truckers - Grievance Merchants Lyrics

As long there've been stories, lies and airwaves
What makes a man a man's been right up front
In visions boys are sold of what it could be
Grievance when it ain't like what they thought
When money and respect seemed to elude him
And being white alone don't make the ladies swoon
There's no shortage when it comes to hearing voices
Telling him it's him that's done it too

Say his trouble with the ladies can't be his fault
After all he's what it's natural they should want
There's just outside voices turning them against him
A conspiracy to water down his blood
A conspiracy to water down his blood
And it's all the fault of it, or them, or they
Give a boy a target for his grievance
And he might get it in his head they need to pay

Yeah, giving boys targets for their grievance
And then mocking those who bear the pain they cause
It takes a certain special kind of something
To cash the cheque it brings and sweep it off

The demonizing of the troubled mind
With all the usual suspects on the scene
Merchants selling young men reclamation
Merchants selling old men back their dreams

Oh, suspended disbelief and wishful thinking
Comes the vision of a special hell for con-ers
Who sell the marks the doubt it even happened
An eternity for every tear they've mocked
An eternity for every tear they've mocked
May the price of freedom finally be their own
May our thought and our prayers keep them company
As they wallow in their helplessness alone
May our thought and our prayers keep them company
As they wallow in their helplessness alone