[Verse 1] Six screens glowing at three in the morning Coffee gone cold and the phones keep ringing Somebody called out, somebody quit So guess who’s staying? Yeah, we’re covering it We move the metal, we carry the load While somebody downtown updates the code They call us heroes when the cameras appear Then forget our names when the paycheck gets here [Pre-Chorus] We’re tired, we’re pissed, but the traffic still flows Nobody sees what the controller knows [Chorus] We’re overworked, undervalued, underpaid Still keeping America moving while the promises fade We’re holding the sky together shift after shift While the people in charge keep calling it a gift Hey Nick Daniels, our dear leader Come down here and meet the real believers We’ve heard the speeches, we’ve seen the show But where’s the change? Hell if we know Dear leader, dear leader, what have you done? We’re still working overtime when the day is done [Verse 2] Mandatory overtime, “just one more day” Another empty sector, another delay They tell us the staffing problem’s under control Funny how that story never reaches the console We train the next crew, then watch them walk Burned-out controllers barely have time to talk But somewhere in an office somebody’s got a plan Probably another PowerPoint explaining why they can’t [Bridge – spoken/shouted] Who keeps the airplanes separated? WE DO! Who works when the staffing gets complicated? WE DO! Who gets told to “do more with less”? WE DO! And who gets thanked with another six-day week? WE DO! [Final Chorus] We’re overworked, undervalued, underpaid But somehow we’re still the ones who save the day We’re keeping the skies safe while the suits debate And if this is success—well, congratulations, Dick— Hey Nick Daniels, our dear leader We don’t need another motivational speaker We need somebody who can actually deliver ’Cause controllers are tired of waiting forever Dear leader! Dear leader! We’re still here! We’re still working! And we’re still pissed!
