Light a Newport get a paper from the porch
Can't believe the bars don't let the people smoke indoors
An empty beer can a couple old sales receipts
Movie ticket stub a pizza box from last week
Watching westerns on his black and white TV set
Digital converter box the government made him get
Stain in his shag carpet no time to clean it yet
Thinking about hitting the bank and cashing his check
Back when it all was simple
Before they took it all away
They sold us all tomorrow
Then they stole our yesterday
Take a ride hop inside the Delta 88
Road map and an atlas is on his backseat
Dice is in the mirror pine trees keep the air fresh
Reach into the glove box and pull out his favorite cassette
Damn thinking music just ain't what it used to be
Ain't been the same since CDs and MTV
He miss the vinyl LPs and the milk crates
So right before he walk in the bank he flip the tape
Back when it all was simple
Before they took it all away
They sold us all tomorrow
Then they stole our yesterday
Teller ask how he's doing he says Fine
They let him know he can check his account balance on line
He laughs and say Truthfully that's out of the question
Cause he heard about the internet but still don't trust it
Get on the freeway it's under construction all the time
Glance down at the buildings crowding the skyline
Most of the spots he used to frequent all closed
They call it progress he calls it Nightclubs and condos
Back when it all was simple
Before they took it all away
They sold us all tomorrow
Then they stole our yesterday
This song right here goes out to all my people
That’s happy with what they got you know
Despite that everybody around you is telling you
That what you got ain’t good enough you know
Like what if what if I don’t want that upgrade man
Like what if what I got works fine for me you know
That don’t mean I’m not ambitious does it
I hope not man I hope not
Back when it all was simple
Before they took it all away
They sold us all tomorrow
Then they stole our yesterday