Oh yeah, we trade companionship for wads of paper
Taught to shut out our friends, ignore our neighbors
Surrounded every day by familiar strangers
Convince yourself that nothing's wrong
You just sit back and play along
Oblivious to capitalist alienation, human segregation
How mush do you really know about me?
How can you say that we're so free?
Defined by occupation, position-my definition
Oh yeah, we trade companionship for wads of paper
Taught to shut out our friends, ignore our neighbors
Surrounded every day by familiar strangers
Friendship means nothing in this world
A man or woman, boy or girl
It's just a game we all like to play as we're cast away
We've known each other for so long
You think that coldness makes you strong
Prepare yourself for a lonely existence, with no assistance
Oh yeah, we trade companionship for wads of paper
Taught to shut out our friends, ignore our neighbors
Surrounded every day by familiar strangers
We're all strangers living near
We're all strangers stung by fear
We're all strangers with no cheer
Oh, yeah!