The tape was a way to signal priorities.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	2:det	_
2	tape	tape	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	5:nsubj	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	5:cop	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	5:det	_
5	way	way	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	0:root	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	7:mark	_
7	signal	signal	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	acl	5:acl:to	_
8	priorities	priority	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obj	7:obj	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	5:punct	_
