(Verse 1)
Came out west with a vision in my hand
Chasing code, chasing dreams, thought I'd make a stand
Where the skyline glows with venture haze
Every pitch deck sells another brave new phase
But the rent's a crime, the line's too long
For a coffee shop job that barely keeps the lights on
And the lucky few who struck it rich
Are burning out just to not lose grip
(Pre-Chorus)
Every corner hums with ambition and pride
But behind every Tesla, someone’s getting priced outside
(Chorus)
This is the Bay of Broken Gold
Where the stories sound young, but the hearts feel old
We were promised we’d change the world
But the system just changed us, then tossed us cold
Even the rich ain’t really free
Trapped in cycles of productivity
No time to rest, no place to breathe
This Golden Gate doesn’t swing for me
(Verse 2)
Startup kings in glass and chrome
While five roommates call a two-bed home
And she’s got a PhD but serves you fries
Cause her dream doesn’t pay in these market highs
The cost of a salad could break your week
But your app better scale or you’re obsolete
Everyone’s building, nobody lives
Just take, disrupt, and never give
(Pre-Chorus)
You can build the next big thing in your sleep
But try finding joy—now that’s too steep
(Chorus)
This is the Bay of Broken Gold
Where the stories sound young, but the hearts feel old
We were promised we’d change the world
But the system just changed us, then tossed us cold
Even the rich ain’t really free
Trapped in cycles of productivity
No time to rest, no place to breathe
This Golden Gate doesn’t swing for me
(Bridge)
Oh, the dreamers dream in sandbox skies
But the ladder’s gone for those who try
And the ones who made it still can’t stop
Just chasing more from mountaintops
No peace, no pause, just quarterly goals
Fill your soul with IPOs
But what’s a fortune if you lose your soul?
In this Bay of broken gold
(Final Chorus)
This is the Bay of Broken Gold
Where fortunes rise, but few hearts hold
A place to stay, a life to live
It takes too much, and it won’t forgive
Even the rich ain’t really free
Trapped in myths of what they’re “meant to be”
We’re all just ghosts in lightning speed
This Golden Gate doesn’t swing for me
(Outro)
Oh, I came to change the world one line at a time
Now I’m just hoping to make rent by nine