Hit You with the Guilt - Janis Ian

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