I’ve always had a tendency to combine work and pleasure, and working with Author-it has been both. But I also find myself wanting to bring a little bit of work into my playtime, especially when I’m making music with friends. The following song is a prime example. I wrote it before the 2007 STC conference in Minneapolis, and performed it with a pickup band at the STC Open Jam that year. My friend and guitarist extraordinaire Paul Caluori helped work out the chords (since all I can do is sing). He also provides the music on a recording that’s available on our website; look under “Music” for a link to the MP3. And lest ye be offended by strong language, please note that we don’t say “(well)” in the third verse of the recording. If you’d like the chords, drop me a line.
The “I Wanna Be Single Sourcing” Blues
I wanna write it once and use it everywhere
I want it to be easy, just like walkin’ on air
I got 10,000 pages I have to maintain
If I have to change ‘em one by one I think I’ll go insane
Chorus
I wanna be single sourcin’ (3x)
So I can live a life of ease

We got to give them PDFs and also HTML
Context-sensitive help in 10 languages as well
Our schedules they are tight, and so are our belts,
Our department is downsizin’ and my desk is a mess
Chorus
I wanna be single sourcin’ (3x)
So I can live a life of ease

Management says they need to study it for a while
They got a five-year plan before they recommend what to buy
They mentioned content management and XML
Two years of integration, I swear, I’ll send them straight to (well)
Chorus
I wanna be single sourcin’ (3x)
So I can live a life of ease

Bridge (talking)
You know I been dreamin’ ‘bout single sourcin’
Gimme that blob, baby – chunk it!
Break it up, break it up – reuse it!
Make a web page – poof!
How about PDF?
You need translations? Save a little money?
Oh, it’s so easy baby …

So give it to me right now, don’t make me wait another day
I need to reuse some content, and I don’t have a million dollars to pay
I just need a little help to put it all together
And I’ll be walkin’ in sunshine in every kind of weather
Chorus
I wanna be single sourcin’ (3x)
And I believe I’m gonna do it today
(spoken) or maybe tomorrow mornin’ …

Posted by John Hawkins, Author-it Project Manager, Systems Documentation, Inc. (SDI)