home from work to an open front door
belongings scattered all along the floor
did i get robbed? better check whats gone
the drawers pulled out televisions on
chairs tipped over and tables flipped
the lamps broken and the couch is ripped
knick knacks once stacked sit strewn along
the tile and files collect in messy piles

see a single sheet of paper with a emblem
amongst the bedlam on the door to my bedroom
looks official - notarized
i surmise this letter comes from "the good guys"
but why? i aint done dirt in months
i gave the game away to keep these stunts
away from me away from her away from us
thought my past was ash and dust

read it closer it seems contention
isnt with me - not even mentioned
it seems my girls been being sneaky
downloading new episodes of shows weekly
from channels that we dont pay for so now
the FBT came and shut her down
but prison time and jail for some shows?
seems farfetched but thats how it goes

who hasnt downloaded a photo?
an album? anime from kyoto?
that you shouldnt have - games apps up for grabs
on the internet zips tars rars and cabs
does it even feel like stealin
when youre only two clicks away from straight peeling
anything your heart desires any format
through these wires and right past your doormat?

i must admit its a bit
impersonal to receive or transmit
the human beings behind the screens
dehumanized by these new machines
naked celebrities for the taking
pilfered by dubious means for news making
or an artists brand new creation
stolen and get no compensation

wheres the line drawn? bad intentions?
when you share those files on high speed connections?
when you target innocent users
by stealing files off their home computers?
what about cracking corporations
or infiltrating uplinked nations?
dont have to argue whats legal
but not all crimes created equal

scattered on the floor
papers disks and drawers
all of the things
notes up on the door
government at war
pulling the strings

a brave new world where every action
shared amongst those control whats happening
arbitrarily enforce the rules
armed with the best surveillance tools
and you cant catch terrorists or kill tyrants
just drug busts and software pirates
seems like a waste of the greatest net
cast over the oceans deepest depths

cuz in this game cant tell combatants
from all the civilians in private practice
easy to frame control or contain
with the narrative beaming to your brain
through fear uncertainty its no doubt
why we need protections rolled out
or so says the powers that be profusely
convinced every criminal fierce as bruce lee

truth is everyone has potential
to be subversive, crack and go mental
so they keep all that data central
and say its safety essential
some see this hypocrisy and do nothing
slacktivists move wrists and click buttons
get behind a cause to change the laws
but dont have all the brains or half the balls

some soldiers who sit behind the walls
of prison risked their lives for vision
sacrificed themselves in position
to fight this inquisition
but the casualties of guilt admission
are never to be forgiven
and casualties like my girl in contrition
still a welcome addition