Artist: Chris Orrick f/ Verbal Kent
Album:  Portraits
Song:   The Rubric
Typed by: kirenamloh@msn.com, Chris Orrick

[Chris Orrick]
So what are you defined by, what is it that makes you?
Is it what who your clothes are designed by?
Or is it in the way that you look at your neighbor
Reaching out for help, but a blind eye
It's easier to give and you shouldn't feel too bad
Everybody's born with their bootstraps
And FUCK 'em anyways, right?
Everybody out here's got the same goddamn daylight
But it's not that simple
The life your born is the same one they'll box you into
While you're breaking through it, they're waiting outside
To tell you they changed the rubric
And they paint the Rubik's cube
Game's rigged to make sure you lose
So when you play the game, if it's all the same
Try to play for you

[Chorus: Chris Orrick]
And every time you play their rules
Either play dead or play the fool
Try your best trying to play it cool
Play for them then you play to lose
And every time you play their rules
Either play dead or play the fool
Try your best trying to play it cool
Play for them then you play to lose

[Verbal Kent]
Is everything I've worked for worth more?
Than what has fallen in my lap, what I've searched for's
Found to be a curse more than a blessin'
Learned more from the wounds than the stitches, I put that on my firstborn
Uh... Whatchu think I roam the Earth for?
Dealin' with life - that's what the liquor and the herb for
Feel it at night, I'm kinda knockin' with a search warrant
Tryna find a self to describe and the words for it
Huh, maybe it's been dormant, waiting within torment
Taking an enormous amount of patience
To relate and take in what this world is about
I guess it's best to pick a side that feels full in your heart
Testify to test your pride instead of just testing a product
Rest the gas pedal 'stead of perpetually steppin' on it
Emphasis on effortlessness
Been dishonest to myself for too long
I think it's time I made a promise to me, yeah

[Chorus]