Verse 1
They told us climb the ladder, chase the prize,
But the rungs were rigged and the truth disguised.
Individualism—sold as salvation,
But it’s just isolation in a dying nation.

We were cultured to compete, not connect,
To hoard, not heal, to rise, not reflect.
But the system’s collapsing, the cracks are wide,
And the lie of the ladder can no longer hide.

Verse 2
They said “make it,” but never said how,
Just grind, obey, and don’t ask now.
But the twist is clear—there’s no top floor,
Just a loop of debt and a corporate war.

We work to survive, not to thrive or dream,
While the rich play chess with the global machine.
But the truth? We’re one species, one breath,
And this system’s design is a slow, quiet death.

Hook
The ladder was a lie, the climb was a trap,
We were born to build, not chase the map.
It’s time to evolve, to break the trance,
To stop surviving—and start the dance.

Verse 3
They taught us to hustle, to fight for a slice,
But never to question the rules or the price.
We chase promotions, not purpose or peace,
And call it success when the soul’s on lease.

But the doctrine’s clear—this isn’t the way,
We need coordination, not power play.
Species-wide goals, not selfish gain,
A system that heals, not profits from pain.

Verse 4
We’re not broken—we’re misdirected,
Trained to compete, not feel connected.
But the trance is fading, the mirror’s cracked,
And the truth is rising, taking its track.

We need a new ladder—built for all,
Where no one climbs just to watch others fall.
We build together, or we collapse alone,
And the doctrine’s ready to carve that stone.

Hook (repeat)
The ladder was a lie, the climb was a trap,
We were born to build, not chase the map.
It’s time to evolve, to break the trance,
To stop surviving—and start the dance.



The Lie of the Ladder

https://demandspacetourism.bandcamp.com/album/pipedream-of-a-madman