Lyrics to "Cycle Time Blues"

Came outta the meeting, The message was clear, The phrase came up that inspires our fear: Your cycle time's up, Your cycle time's up, If I pinch it with some pliers, an' swish it all around, Maybe I can bring my cycle time down. Last quarter we cut it by 20 percent, We were happy for a week til the message was sent: Your cycle time's up, Your cycle time's up, If I give it a shrink-wrap, cook it `til it's brown, Maybe I can bring my cycle time down. I fudged on the do loops, trimmed the in's and out's, I took out three steps that I don't care about, but My cycle time's up, My cycle time's up, If I put it on a diet, take out the verbs and nouns, Maybe I can bring my cycle time down. Woke up in a cold sweat: a cycle time dream, Raised the whole house with my cycle time scream, My cycle time's up, My cycle time's up, If I take it to shipping, put it underground, Maybe I can bring my cycle time down. Lost sleep, headaches, what is it worth? This problem's gonna shorten my cycle time on Earth, My cycle time's up, My cycle time's up, If I give it a shrink-wrap, cook it `til it's brown, Maybe I can bring my cycle time down. Stop time rap: "Well perhaps it's not up in absolute terms, but pertaining to the strategic objectives generated by the board of directors if this mission critical operation stays the same it's an increase in relative terms and your bonus is tied.. .Ahhh!" My cycle time's up, My cycle time's up, If I pinch it with some pliers, an' swish it all around, Maybe I can bring my cycle time down.