[Verse 1] In the early nineteen hundreds when the factories grew tall Frederick Taylor had a vision to optimize them all With his stopwatch and his clipboard, he would time each move you made Said there's science in the workplace, and efficiency's the trade [Chorus] Three forces came together, personnel was born that day Scientific Management, War, and Welfare paved the way Taylorism, Labor shortage, Benefits to make them stay Three forces came together, HR started this way [Verse 2] World War One took all the workers, left the factories behind Millions shipped across the ocean, replacements hard to find Government made classification systems for the war When the fighting ended, business used them more and more [Chorus] Three forces came together, personnel was born that day Scientific Management, War, and Welfare paved the way Taylorism, Labor shortage, Benefits to make them stay Three forces came together, HR started this way [Verse 3] Progressive companies like Cadbury, Rowntree, and Ford too National Cash Register offered benefits brand new Housing, healthcare, profit-sharing, keep the workers satisfied Prevent the unions forming, keep the talent by your side [Bridge] Welfare secretary, mostly women in the role Administering the benefits, taking care of every soul Time studies and piece rates, job classifications too From these early personnel departments, modern HR grew [Chorus] Three forces came together, personnel was born that day Scientific Management, War, and Welfare paved the way Taylorism, Labor shortage, Benefits to make them stay Three forces came together, HR started this way [Outro] From Taylor's systematic study to the welfare secretary's care The personnel department emerged, and it's still growing everywhere
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