Everything's Staged

Once bass fueled my heartbeat Once trance chilled my hot-headed soul Now I'm playing a role Once songs kept me in heat Once synths were my only neavou Oh, where did it go? Everything's staged And everything's built The fruit doesn't age The flowers don't wilt Everything's staged And everything's made Have I been played? And if you hear the pumping sound of drums It's EQ'd and revised and delayed And if you yell and scream at every thump They're not live, they're like everything: staged! Cut out five shows early I can't take this unending tour No, not anymore No cash or deal can help me I'm still -- now silence cuts to my bones Leave me alone Everything's staged And everything's lies I'm ruled by my rage The money's run dry Everything's staged And everything hurts Is this my curse? And if you see my smile shined up in lights Know it's paid for, retouched, and afraid And if you climb while you're afraid of heights There is no one who comes to your aid Set the gain to zero Someone sweep the dust from the room It's over so soon Now I've met my heroes And they told me everything's staged They let me be caged Everything's staged The world is all lies A war you can wage Or say your goodbyes Everything's staged Don't tell me it's real You do what you feel? Everything's staged And everything's built The fruit doesn't age The flowers don't wilt Everything's staged Electric or not Don't give it a thought