Luna Rivers - Winter's Wage Lyrics

[Intro]
Cold December air, mama's hands are raw
Third shift tonight, I watch her walk out the door

[Verse 1]
Minimum wage warrior in a Santa hat
Scrubbing hotel floors while rich folks get fat
Christmas lights flickering through apartment walls
While she's serving drinks at their fancy balls
Empty fridge at home but she holds her head high
Working double shifts just to get by

[Chorus]
Winter's wage, winter's rage
Mama's breaking her back for minimum wage
Holiday dreams come with a price tag
While they're sipping champagne, she's holding their bags
But we survive, yeah, we survive
Through these December demons, we're still alive

[Verse 2]
Retail hell got her feet swollen and sore
Manager's breathing down her neck for more
Fake smile plastered, scanning gifts all day
Rich kids spending what she makes in pay
Five hours sleep between the morning light
Then back to cleaning up their party night

[Bridge]
They don't see her, they just see service
Behind their perfect Christmas surface
But mama taught me dignity ain't free
In this f*cked up holiday economy

[Chorus]
Winter's wage, winter's rage
Mama's breaking her back for minimum wage
Holiday dreams come with a price tag
While they're sipping champagne, she's holding their bags
But we survive, yeah, we survive
Through these December demons, we're still alive

[Outro]
Every extra shift is a gift wrapped in love
Every tired step is protection from above
This ain't no Christmas carol they sing about
But it's our truth, and I'm gonna scream it out
Mama, I see you, even when they don't
I'll carry your strength when these winter nights get cold