Do You Have the "Compliance Blues"?

For those of you following our Twitter feed, International Trade Law News is attending this week's International Trade Compliance Professionals annual conference in Anaheim, California.

In honor of all of the hard working trade compliance professionals out there I am posting the music and lyrics to "Compliance Blues", which was written a few years ago by Bruce Jackson, the "Trade Compliance Guy" and a well known export controls expert. Bruce wrote the song in 2002 and Bruce's friend Tim Birchard recently composed the music and recorded the song. The song can be heard here. (As you will see, some of the terms have changed since the song was written.)

Compliance Blues

Got a letter the other day
Came from a man at BXA
Said he’d like to come for a visit
Oh…man….this is it..

I’got those deep down compliance blues
I’got those deep down compliance blues
When you’d trade anything to be in someone else’s shoes

When I messed up that SED
They put out an A.P.B.
Yeah, the CI and AWB were out of line
But that shady forwarder said I’d be just fine

I’got those deep down compliance blues
I’got those deep down compliance blues
When you’d trade anything to be in someone else’s shoes

Senior Management was havin’ a fit
If only they could see it from where I sit
That enforcement agent with his slick RayBans
Was ready to toss me in the can

I’got those deep down compliance blues
I’got those deep down compliance blues
When you’d trade anything to be in someone else’s shoes

I can quote the regs til I turn blue
Sales and shipping just do what they wanna do
Maybe one day justice will prevail
And BXA will send our CEO to jail

I’got those deep down compliance blues
I’got those deep down compliance blues
When you’d trade anything to be in someone else’s shoes

As I soldier on through the compliance quagmire
I’ll trudge along till the last license expires
Cuz no matter what they may say
I ain’t got them blues as bad as ol’ Ken Lay

I’got those deep down compliance blues
I’got those deep down compliance blues
When you’d trade anything to be in someone else’s shoes
Yeah, I’got those deep down compliance blues

© By Bruce “BRJblues” Jackson February 2002