Departments in Binds

[Verse 1]
Stacks of memos
Leaning like tired trees
Elevators busted
But we hold three meetings a week
Forms on the forms
On the forms you must sign
Everybody’s waiting
On a stamp
On a line
[Chorus]
We’re a government
In departments
Binds
Tied up in tape
’til we lose our minds
Trying to move forward
With our feet entwined
Paper chains clinking
In departments
Binds
[Verse 2]
Budget in a folder
Locked in a second desk drawer
Hot coffee cooling
As they argue for an hour more
“Send it to committee”
Means we’ll see it next spring
By the time it circles back
Can’t remember the thing
[Chorus]
We’re a government
In departments
Binds
Tied up in tape
’til we lose our minds
Trying to move forward
With our feet entwined
Paper chains clinking
In departments
Binds
[Bridge]
Who’s fixing roads
While we’re fixing reports? (hey!)
Who’s counting votes
While we’re counting retorts?
If every helping hand
Has to pass through nine doors
How many good days
Get lost in these floors?
[Chorus]
We’re a government
In departments
Binds
Tied up in tape
’til we lose our minds
Trying to move forward
With our feet entwined
Paper chains clinking
In departments
Binds

Dry, rubbery funk groove with tight bass and rimshot drums; male vocals ride the pocket, half-sung, half-spoken. Sparse clav and muted guitar chops in verses; chorus blooms with gang shouts, tambourine, and a warm brass section punctuating punchlines. Subtle vocoder doubles key phrases for a sly, satirical sheen.