Nolan Lentz - Welfare Whiskey Lyrics

[Intro]
Welfare check to welfare check
Papa's pride turned to regret
Finnish blood runs through these veins
But the system's got us chained

[Verse 1]
Started at the paper mill, UPM was the dream
Now daddy's sipping whiskey, drowning in routine
Laid off workers lined up like dominos to fall
While suits in Helsinki decide who's gonna crawl
Remember watching papa iron his collar clean
For interviews where hope was rarely ever seen
But he'd smile and say "Poika, keep your head up high"
Even when the bank account was running dry

[Chorus]
Welfare whiskey, pour another glass
Working class heroes never meant to last
Welfare whiskey, numb the f*cking pain
Tomorrow we'll get up and try again

[Verse 2]
They say pull yourself up by the bootstraps, man
But they sold our boots to China, that's the master plan
Now we're dancing to their tune like puppet shows
While the factory's getting cold and windows close
Accordion plays a song of yesterday
When honest work meant something, that's what people say
But now we're all just numbers on a screen
Living off the system, if you know what I mean

[Bridge]
Pride's a luxury we can't afford no more
But we keep our heads high walking through that door
Signing papers, jumping hoops like circus acts
While they feed us bullshit 'bout economic facts

[Verse 3]
Every generation thinks they'll break the chain
But we're still here drinking, numbing all the pain
Papa taught me how to wear that mask of steel
When inside you're broken, but you can't reveal
Now I'm watching history repeat itself
Economic trauma sitting on the shelf
Next to empty bottles and unpaid bills
Nordic dream's just bitter f*cking pills

[Chorus]
Welfare whiskey, pour another glass
Working class heroes never meant to last
Welfare whiskey, numb the f*cking pain
Tomorrow we'll get up and try again

[Outro]
Still proud, still Finnish, still standing tall
Even when the system wants to see us fall
Welfare whiskey flowing through our veins
The only inheritance that still remains