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You're On The List (Panopticon Boogie)




Synopsis: You're on the List (Panopticon Boogie) is a satirical country-folk song about life in the age of surveillance capitalism. Inspired by Jeremy Bentham's famous Panopticon, it explores how smartphones, algorithms, smart devices and social media have turned the world's biggest prison into something we willingly carry in our pockets. Humorous on the surface but darker underneath, the song asks who is really watching—and why the system seems so good at tracking consumers, yet so poor at seeing those most in need.

Lyrics

I woke up this morning, grabbed my phone to say hey 
The algorithm already knew what I'd eat today 
My fridge is talking to my TV, Lord they're getting along 
Google heard me humming and it finished my song! 

Bentham had a vision back in 1791 
Never thought we'd build it just for fun! 

Somebody's always watching, hey hey hey! 
Every click and every step along the way 
Your face, your food, your feelings — honey nothing's ever missed 
You're on the list, you're on the list, you're on the list! 
Oh you'll never get lost, never walk alone 
The Panopticon's got you — right there on your phone! 
Yee-haw! 

Verse 2 
I walked down Main Street, waved hello to the cam 
It knew my name and where I'd been and what I am 
My TV watched me watching it — we're practically friends 
And my doorbell starts recording where the driveway ends! 

Pre-Chorus 

Every coffee shop and corner got an eye in the sky 
Smile real big, darlin', give a wave goodbye! 

Chorus 

Somebody's always watching, hey hey hey! 
Every click and every step along the way 
Your face, your food, your feelings — honey nothing's ever missed 
You're on the list, you're on the list, you're on the list! 
Oh you'll never get lost, never walk alone 
The Panopticon's got you — right there on your phone! 
Yee-haw! 

Bridge 

Now ain't it funny how the watching eye 
Never seems to see the folks who cry 
Broke and hungry, sleeping in the cold
The camera looks away when your story's told 
They'll find you if you stumble, find you if you stray 
But lose you pretty quickly when you can't afford to pay 

Mm-mm-mm... 

Verse 3
 
So raise a glass to Bentham and his big bright tower 
We rebuilt it with our thumbs in less than half an hour 
We signed the terms and conditions without reading a line 
Now the data's theirs forever but we're doing just fine! 

Final Chorus

Somebody's always watching, hey hey hey! 
Every click and every step along the way 
Your face, your food, your feelings — honey nothing's ever missed 
You're on the list, you're on the list, you're on the list! 
Oh you'll never get lost, never walk alone 
The Panopticon's got you — right there on your phone! On your phone! On your phone! 
Yee-haw! 

Outro 

Somebody's watching... (hey hey!) 
Somebody's watching... (hey hey!) 
Wave to the camera, darlin'... 
They already know your name...


Link to the song: https://giffenman.bandcamp.com/track/youre-on-the-list
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