(Chorus) 

Riddle me who, riddle me why, answer me this, 

Who owns the chians that bind your wrists? 

Riddle me who, riddle me why, answer me this, 

Riddle me who built the machine that washed your brain? 

Like parents did before them 

Your parents did the same 

They said do your best, you must pass the test 

You must learn to play the game 

They scrimped and saved and suffered 

To send you off to school 

But if they'd had the cash they could've bought the class 

And a different set of rules 



Riddle me who, riddle me why, answer me this, 

Who owns the chians that bind your wrists? 

Riddle me who, riddle me why, answer me this, 

Riddle me who built the machine that washed your brain? 



They taught a simple system 

Why they had and you had not 

They said know your place, you can't win the race 

Life's an auction you're the lot 

If you'd ever thought to question 

They would never answer why 

When they buy your sweat, your are in their debt 

And they own you till you die 



Riddle me who, riddle me why, answer me this, 

Who owns the chians that bind your wrists? 

Riddle me who, riddle me why, answer me this, 

Riddle me who built the machine that washed your brain? 



You took hook line and sinker 

Everything they fed 

Worked day and night, for most your life 

To earn their daily bread 

Now you're old and weary, 

And you lay you down to sleep 

With body worn and spirit torn 

What's left is yours to keep 



Riddle me who, riddle me why, answer me this, 

Who owns the chians that bind your wrists? 

Riddle me who, riddle me why, answer me this, 

Riddle me who built the machine that washed your brain?