Halfway through another shift from hell Under fluorescents, I’m chewing my tongue Cell phone lines and a room full of lies People want free stuff, I’m not the one Buddy on my right hands out twenty Like that fixes every broken ring I just stare at the blinking screen And let them complain about everything Then my supervisor comes strolling by With that clipboard like it owns the place He says, "Be more empathetic" With that too-trusting smile on his face I said, "Nope, nope, nope" He said, "Try it on the next call" I’m sorry to hear that, I’m sorry to hear that (I’m sorry to hear that) I’m sorry to hear that, I’m sorry to hear that (I’m sorry to hear that) Fifty times in a row And it still won’t save your day I fixed the problem, shut it down Then watched that shame walk away Next call comes in with a mouthful of fire I let him bark till he ran out of air Every time he started up again I hit him back with my best fake care "I’m sorry to hear that" — once, twice, ten Like a loop that I could never break He got his fix, got off the phone And I didn’t even flinch or shake He comes back swinging that stupid board Says, "I heard you say sorry like forty times" I said, "It was fifty, if we’re counting" He looked at me with those tired eyes And said, "You were not sorry" "Please don’t ever say that again" I’m sorry to hear that, I’m sorry to hear that (I’m sorry to hear that) I’m sorry to hear that, I’m sorry to hear that (I’m sorry to hear that) Fifty times in a row And it still won’t save your day I fixed the problem, shut it down Then watched that shame walk away Taped-door slam in the hall My name on the clipboard wall He wants a softer kind of knife I’ve been cutting through this life I’m sorry to hear that I’m sorry to hear that I’m sorry to hear that, I’m sorry to hear that (I’m sorry to hear that) I’m sorry to hear that, I’m sorry to hear that (I’m sorry to hear that) Fifty times in a row Like a prayer I learned to say I fixed the problem, shut it down And let the silence have its way
