Lyrics Hit You with the Guilt - Janis Ian

Hit You with the Guilt

They pin you full of medals, thinking everything is settled
Like you’re some jerk
They make you out a hero, then they turn you into zero
'Cause there’s no work
They mail congratulations every federal occasion
But it still hurts
They send you out to kill, then they hit you with the bill
And every time you try to climb the hill
They hit you with the guilt
You’ve not committed any crime
They hit you with the guilt
Anything if you toe the line
They tell you get a job, but there’s not a lot to rob
And it’s too late — can’t wait
They want you to be patient, get a higher education
Find a new trade — self-made
They tell you to forget, but the people that you’ve met
Put out quite a chill
They treat you like a loser.
You’re just another user
And every time you’ve had your fill
They hit you with the guilt
You’ve not committed any crime
They hit you with the guilt
Anything if you toe the line
It’s a crummy situation when the heroes of a nation
Are its outlaws
There’s got to be a reason to keep on believing
When you’re rubbed raw
What happened to the payoff?
Just another layoff
Just another short-order drill
They treat you like a man, then they mark you with a brand
And every time you want to kill
They hit you with the guilt
You’ve not committed any crime
They hit you with the guilt
Anything if you toe the line
They hit you with the guilt
You’ve not committed any crime
They hit you with the guilt
Anything if you toe the line