Lyrics

I am a teacher
And I work from six to six
And for those twelve hours
I’ll be paid for eight
That’s only one of many things about my job I wish they’d fix
But let’s be clear
The problem ain’t the kids
They’re mostly great
I’ve got a principal who’s clueless
And the parent who’s insane
And a constant state of low-grade paranoia in my brain

It’s never clear
What the rules are day to day
Do what’s right
Or do what’s wrong
They’re gonna crucify you either way

Nobody told me that it would be
So very hard to raise a family on the money that I’d make
Nobody told me
That though I’d try to do my very best
There was always someone waiting to make me pay for each mistake
Nobody told me about the cost
And just how much of my spirit would be lost

I am a teacher.
What I teach I just don’t know
Which version of the truth
Will cause this powder keg to blow?
To Kill a Mockingbird’s a sin
And the Bible is insane
These days science is a bunch of lies
And morality’s a pain

It’s never clear
What the rules are day to day
Do what’s right
Or do what’s wrong
They’re gonna crucify you either way

Nobody told me that it would be
So very hard to raise a family on the money that I’d make
Nobody told me
That though I’d try to do my very best
There was always someone waiting to make me pay for each mistake
Nobody told me about the cost
And just how much of my spirit would be lost

It’s never clear
What the rules are day to day
Do what’s right
Or do what’s wrong
They’re gonna crucify you either way

I am a teacher.
I do it for the kids
And I do it, most days, out of love
I am a teacher
I guess that it’s a noble calling
But I’m finding out
That that’s just not enough.