Nothing Happens

“Nothing Happens” is a stark and unflinching poetic critique of institutional deception, wrapped in a lyrical structure that feels part spoken-word manifesto, part dystopian lament. With words penned by Samuel E Burns, the song is less a ballad and more a quiet indictment a calm, simmering rage pointed at the machinery of power, media, and misinformation.

From the opening lines “The stories were real. / Told us they weren’t.” Burns establishes a tone of betrayal, threading together themes of censorship, propaganda, and complicity. The imagery is minimalist yet powerful: “The laptop. / The emails. / Quiet deals in countries, / We can’t pronounce.” These lines don’t overwhelm with detail; instead, they echo headlines we've heard, scandals we've half-forgotten suggesting not just corruption, but the public’s desensitization to it.

The repetition of the phrase “They knew. They knew. / They always knew.” acts like a gut punch, serving as both accusation and realization. Burns doesn’t just criticize; he points out the choreography behind the scenes “Pulled strings behind the scene, / Signed by ghosts of power.” That phrase alone is a haunting metaphor for unaccountable governance.

Where “Nothing Happens” truly finds its weight is in its chorus-like refrain: “But nothing happens.” It’s a sobering reminder that in the age of exposed truths, the real scandal isn't just the wrongdoing but the lack of consequence. No resignations. No apologies. Just the grind of the machine.

Burns's lyrics never devolve into conspiracy but remain grounded in a broader disillusionment. The media is skewered not as an enemy, but as a compromised entity: “Once a watchdog. / Is now a guard dog, / For the powerful.” It’s a transformation that speaks volumes without needing embellishment.

The final verses shift from anger to resignation: “This isn’t about sides. / It’s about power. / And the fear, / That the truth / No longer matters.” The slow repetition of the closing lines “And nothing / Ever / Happens.” drives home the bleakness. It's not just a statement; it’s a warning.