Ode to a Lifelong Bureaucrat (Chambers)

Story Behind The Song

An early morning meeting

Conducted by the new kid on the block

There's talk of revamping this place

Against the will of folks like me

And he smiles and presses for change

It's in the name of progress

God knows I've heard those words before

Returning to my office

Returning to the tasks I know so well…

And I see him passing by

This is not what I signed on for, no

I have been sitting for thirty years all told

And I can ride out these winds of change

And stay the same till my retirement

I've sat and watched these fads go by

Have waited out initiatives galore

I know nothing ever lasts for long

I can keep this noise on mute

And I see him passing by

This is not what I signed on for, no

I have been sitting for thirty years all told

And I can ride out these winds of change

And stay the same till my retirement

And I see him passing by, an eager smile on his face

This is not what I signed on for, no

I have been sitting for thirty years all told

And I can ride out these winds of change

And stay the same till my retirement...

  Copyright 2002 LHH songs

I haven't met too many people who are big fans of bureaucracy, though many have worked in one at some point. This song describes work from the point of view of someone who has remained in the same position for (too) many years, and is now biding his time until he can retire. I wouldn't say I'm a big fan of the character telling the story, though I've met him a few times... A song of frustration for anyone who's tried to accomplish something, only to see others standing in the way.