The TAA Shuffle

An upbeat, slick 90s Country-Rock song with a driving, cheerful rhythm, The instrumentation is bright and clean, featuring twangy electric guitars, prominent piano, and a B3 organ, The lead vocal is a gravelly, cynical male baritone, creating a strong ironic contrast with the happy music

[Chorus]
So we're doin' the T.A.A. Shuffle
Yeah, the Trade Adjustment scuffle
Fillin' out the forms in triplicate
Just to prove that we're still legitimate.
They're teachin' me to "manage stress"
And how to "interview for success"
But the only job that's comin' clear
Is the one that left here last year.

[Verse 2]
There's a fella here who ran a lathe
Now he's learnin' "intro to the web."
There's a union steward, tough as nails
Takin' notes on "how to answer e-mails."
It's a one-size-fits-all kinda plan
For a "flexible workforce," man oh man
And if you don't show, they dock your pay
So you sit and watch your old life fade
One useless class at a time.

[Chorus]
Yeah, we're doin' the T.A.A. Shuffle
The good-for-nothin' rebuttal
Fillin' out the forms in triplicate
Just to prove that we're still legitimate.
They're teachin' me to "manage stress"
And how to "interview for success"
But the only job that's comin' clear
Is the one that left here last year.

[Bridge]
They give you vouchers, give you hope
Just enough to help you cope
It's a bittersweet salve, a political fix
Just a dog and pony show of tricks.
It ain't about a new career
It's 'bout keepin' us quiet here
While the "suckin' sound" gets louder and louder.

[Guitar Solo]

[Outro]
Yeah, the one that left here last year.
Gotta "manage my stress."
Gotta "interview for success."

2092/7500

[Verse 1] Traded in my steel-toed boots For a plastic chair and a bad free suit In a cinderblock room with a fluorescent haze They're gonna "retrain" me for the "brand new days." Got a bright-eyed lady up at the front With a PowerPoint slide and a peppy grunt She says "Your future's waitin', you just gotta learn How to type a resume and wait your turn." And we all just nod and sign. [Chorus] So we're doin' the T.A.A. Shuffle Yeah, the Trade Adjustment scuffle Fillin' out the forms in triplicate Just to prove that we're still legitimate. They're teachin' me to "manage stress" And how to "interview for success" But the only job that's comin' clear Is the one that left here last year. [Verse 2] There's a fella here who ran a lathe Now he's learnin' "intro to the web." There's a union steward, tough as nails Takin' notes on "how to answer e-mails." It's a one-size-fits-all kinda plan For a "flexible workforce," man oh man And if you don't show, they dock your pay So you sit and watch your old life fade One useless class at a time. [Chorus] Yeah, we're doin' the T.A.A. Shuffle The good-for-nothin' rebuttal Fillin' out the forms in triplicate Just to prove that we're still legitimate. They're teachin' me to "manage stress" And how to "interview for success" But the only job that's comin' clear Is the one that left here last year. [Bridge] They give you vouchers, give you hope Just enough to help you cope It's a bittersweet salve, a political fix Just a dog and pony show of tricks. It ain't about a new career It's 'bout keepin' us quiet here While the "suckin' sound" gets louder and louder. [Guitar Solo] [Chorus] So we're doin' the T.A.A. Shuffle Yeah, the Trade Adjustment scuffle Fillin' out the forms in triplicate Just to prove that we're still legitimate. They're teachin' me to "manage stress" And how to "interview for success" But the only job that's comin' clear Is the one that left here last year. [Outro] Yeah, the one that left here last year. Gotta "manage my stress." Gotta "interview for success." © 2026 The Shady River Bard. All rights reserved.

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