Run, Rat, Run

Run, rat, run!
Run as fast as you can.
You must run to earn your bread!
If you stop running,
You will earn nothing
And you won’t be able to get fed.

Run, rat, run!
Run early in the morning
Or run late into the night.
Either wake up before Mr. Sun
Or wake up with the Man in the Moon
For you cannot afford respite.

Run, rat, run!
You’re the best runner we have!
The most successful racer by far!
Keep running at this pace
And you just might win the race!
Thank you for giving us all that you are.

Run, rat, run!
What’s this? You want extra crumbs?
Proposturous! Utterly ridiculous!
You’re not even that speedy
And you’re already being greedy.
You cannot possibly be serious.

Run, rat, run!
Don’t slow down now
Though you puff and you pant for air.
If you keep running
You will stop foolishly thinking
That this life isn’t right or fair.

Run rat run!
Don’t stop now!
You must run all day, all night long!
If you really hope to thrive
And you really want to survive 
You must continue to run strong!

Run rat run!
What are you doing?!
If you stop running, you will lose!
What? Do you really think it’s possible
Or even the slightest bit probable
That you can leave the race whenever you choose?

Run rat run!
Don’t be ridiculous!
You must run to earn your bread!
So what if you’re tired
And your brain is haywired
And you feel like you’ll soon drop dead?

Run rat run!
You don’t have any other choice!
This is the only way to earn your keep!
Don’t think about “following your dreams”
Or any other childish schemes.
Those who entertain such nonsense are sheep!

Are you a sheep?
No! You are a rat,
And all good rats run the race!
So quit acting like you’re dying
And start actually trying
To hurry and keep up the pace!

Run rat run!
Stop lying there like a dud!
Oh my word, what is the matter with you?
Where is your drive?!
Wait. Are you still alive?
Someone kick it. Oh. What shall we do?!

Dead rats can’t run!
They just lie around doing nothing.
Dead rats can’t make us any money!
Unless we sell his organs.
Hey, don’t look at me like that.
Laugh! It was supposed to be funny.

Oh well, oh well.
That rat was much too old
And much too worn down anyways.
Everything was fun
While it could still run
But rats can only last so many days.

We need a new rat!
Any young rats around here?
You there! Yes, you would be perfect!
Now your only responsibility
Is to run as fast as you can
So don’t you dare try to shirk it!

Run rat run!
Run as fast as you can!
You must run to earn a roof over your head!
If you stop running,
You will earn nothing
And you’ll have to sleep in a rickety old shed!

Run rat run!
Wait, what are you doing?!
Why are you casting your running shoes aside?
You have enough resources in place
To escape this “tiresome race?”
This foolishness I cannot abide!

You can’t quit running!
Running is in your blood!
Running is all you’re really good at!
Your dreams won’t sustain you
And even if they do
It won’t last long! Surely you know that?!

What’s this? You have faith in God?
You’re heading to college? Found a better opportunity?
Or you’re “harnessing your craft?”
What a bunch of nonsense!
How could you dream of quitting running?!
Surely you can’t be this daft?!

Where are you going?
You can’t run off without two weeks notice!
Oh, forget you! You’re like the other bums!
Luckily, there’s always a rat who drools and smiles
At the chance to run millions of miles
To earn our generous serving of crumbs!

You there! 
You love bread, right? 
Excellent, come over here!
Run in that foolish rat’s stead
And you’ll get plenty of bread
With a generous bonus of crumbs once a year!

Run rat run!
Run as fast as you can.
You must run to earn your bread!
If you stop running,
You will earn nothing
And you will surely end up dead!