A Sea++ Shanty

It's been clear since last October that the project was a pain,
For the client he's a bastard and the manager's the same,
Too close to phase one deadline we were dealt a mortal blow,
For the system as we specced it wouldn't go.

There was just us five remaining when the firings were all done,
And if we'd had any sense then that's when we'd have cut and run,
But some misguided sense of pride it caused us to remain
And watch the project getting later every day.

All spring now we've been drinking in a bar owned by a friend,
Six pints a night to dull the pain and trebles at the end,
Thank God it's only three more weeks and then we get to go,
But the hours and days they seem to pass so slow.

Well we patched the code, we fixed the load, we linked it all at last,
And then we ran the system tests and all but seven passed,
Tomorrow noon they buy phase two and then we get our pay,
Despite the project getting later every day.

We couldn't leave her there, you see, six thousand pounds the bad,
For if our agent he found out he'd say that we'd been had,
We don't work for money, least that's what the bastard said,
We hope he sobers up and drops down dead.

And you to whom the helpdesk team have said their final piece:
"Oh yes that bugs a feature, it's fixed in the next release",
Give up the hopes you might have held of drawing bonus pay,
And watch the project getting later everyday.

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