(Verse 1) Acting title, borrowed chair Keys to offices nobody repairs Five-year plans in pencil lead Crossed out names, unfilled beds You shake my hand, don’t know my file Smile like this won’t last a while Every answer safely vague Every promise slightly late (Pre-Chorus) You say “transition,” you say “shift” Like damage happens by accident You say “timing,” you say “fit” Like words don’t cut, like hands don’t slip (Chorus) Acting director, interim crown Here long enough to burn it down Not here to fix, just here to steer Past accountability, year by year Acting director, temporary reign Permanent impact, no one to blame When the smoke clears, you’re already gone Another name moves the letterhead on (Verse 2) Committees meet, nothing moves Consensus is the chosen excuse Seven voices, zero read Stamp approved, deny the bleed You talk culture, talk prestige While talent quietly takes its leave Exit interviews filed away As “personal choice,” not “systemic decay” (Pre-Chorus) You say “professional,” lower your tone Don’t sound upset if you want a home You say “reasonable,” “be polite” As if silence ever made things right (Chorus) Acting director, interim crown Here long enough to burn it down Not here to fix, just here to steer Past accountability, year by year Acting director, temporary reign Permanent impact, no one to blame When the smoke clears, you’re already gone Another name moves the letterhead on (Bridge – stripped back, spoken-sung) How many offices empty now? How many warnings did you disavow? You call it churn, you call it flow Funny how the same ones go If leadership never stays to see The consequences they seed Then failure isn’t accidental It’s built into the credential (Final Chorus) Acting director, borrowed time Career survives, students don’t always climb You’ll write your line, polish the spin “Challenging years,” no fault within Acting director, sign and seal You never had to mean what you feel When the damage shows, you won’t be found Just a gap where responsibility drowned (Outro) Acting. Always acting. No one left to call it out.
