Tradition!

Who, nine to five, must scramble for a living,
drinking too much coffee, sitting in a cube?
And who gets to work with antiquated systems
that sometimes maybe even work?

State workers! State workers! Tradition!
State workers! State workers! Tradition!

Who can push a paper so it goes nowhere,
with an inbox here, an outbox there?
Who can turn a process into a nightmare
of endless waiting on the paperwork?

State workers! State workers! Tradition!
State workers! State workers! Tradition!

Grade 6, I got my benefits, Grade 9, I got a raise,
I’m taking the promotional exam. I hope it’s easy.

State workers! State workers! Tradition!
State workers! State workers! Tradition!

[Due to contractual disputes with the union, the last verse is currently in litigation and cannot yet be posted.]

State workers! State workers! Tradition!
State workers! State workers! Tradition!