I trade my morning coffee for some healthy tea My phone screen screams about the funds I'll need Tell myself I'm making the smart play Start a 401(K) 'cause they say it's the way Sunday golf is just a corporate game to play Mimic the gurus from some best-selling guide Bought the minivan, said "it's for the family's sake" This heavy loan is my "grown-up" certificate My Choice! My Life! Yeah, I still believe it's true Thinking I'm the one who's holding the wheel But this road I'm on was paved by someone new Just following a script from someone's shelf Oh, yeah... maybe I'm just dancing on a string Singin' the Marionette Blues Skimming the headlines, just the ones they feed Nod along and hope for some new tax relief At the parent-teacher nights, I just read the room Forced to choose the path that they've already groomed The rules for climbing the ladder are never said aloud "Just play the game" is the order from the crowd The praise is gone but the burden keeps on growing Forgot the man I was without me even knowing My Choice! My Life! Yeah, I still believe it's true Thinking I'm the one who's holding the wheel But this road I'm on was paved by someone new Just following a script from someone's shelf Oh, yeah... maybe I'm just dancing on a string Singin' the Marionette Blues Where's the rock and roll kid I dreamed I'd be? Staring at the payments on my mortgage sheet If I took off this armor called "responsibility" Would there be anything left at all of me? My Choice! My Life! 'Til my voice is hoarse and breaking So what if it's a script? Hell, I can take it Just let me choose the brand of beer I'm drinking Ah... that big presentation's waiting in the morning Guess I've gotta go on Singin' the Marionette Blues My Blues