[Verse 1]
From the view in the office on the 16th floor
That you gave 21 years for
Staring out the window at the big billboard
To remind you what your fighting for
It's this guy's life with his flawless smile
His beautiful wife and his perfect child
So to buy and be this guy you choose
And remind yourself that your tie is not a noose
Freedom is not a coffee break with your boss
Eat, sleep, breathe at pre-destined stops
And Xerox 100 times
Now 100 people read what bored you to write
And we can all be bored as a team after all
Ain't that the American dream?
If that's the dream and you can't shake it up
Then please wake me up

[Chorus]
The world's closing in
I'm kicking out
They can't hear me when I shout
That modern life
Modern life has let me down
It's soul-destroying, don't you love it?
You can take this job and shove it
Modern life
Modern life has let me down
[Post-Chorus]
Modern life, modern life, modern life
Has let me down
Modern life, modern life
Has let me down

[Verse 2]
Come home and slam the door of your 4x4
That you never had and never will have a use for
And take a walk through the uniform lawn
Knowing that you'll die in the town you were born
A pre-packaged meal
A pre-packaged plate
In front of the tv on a pre-packaged tray
The choice to be free
And we choose to be like everybody else

[Chorus]
The world's closing in
I'm kicking out
They can't hear me when I shout
That modern life
Modern life has let me down
It's soul-destroying, don't you love it?
You can take this job and shove it
Modern life
Modern life has let me down
[Post-Chorus]
Modern life, modern life, modern life
Has let me down
Modern life, modern life
Has let me down

[Verse 3]
Whatever happened to the love and the unity
The building up of the community?
'Cause now it's all opportunity
It's like the ocean's tainted with impurity
So when the norm is the lunacy
And they tell you to jump do you agree?
And if I don't, well, they're suing me
It's like you don't know what you do to me
Well, you shut me up and you shout me out
And you tell me like there never was a doubt
That it's all planned out
How I'll be living
Dangle a carrot to keep me driven
But now I'm killing anything I'm given
'Cause I will never give in
I'll take a hammer
And with precision
Tear up the newspaper
And smash the television
[Chorus]
The world's closing in
I'm kicking out
They can't hear me when I shout
That modern life
Modern life has let me down
It's soul destroying don't you love it?
You can take this job and shove it
Modern life
Modern life has let me down

[Post-Chorus]
Modern life, modern life, modern life
Has let me down
Modern life, modern life
Has let me down
Modern life, modern life, modern life
Has let me down
Modern life, modern life
Has let me down
Modern life, modern life
Has let me down
Modern life, modern life
Has let me down