Furnace Number Nine

Third shift whistle, sparks against my face Twenty-two years feeding fire in this place Foreman's got a letter folded in his vest Says the company in Ohio knows what's best Molten iron, slow and red Keep my mouth shut, keep my children fed Furnace number nine, she's burning low tonight Every man here wonders if he's next in line Hands black with soot, heart black with worry Furnace number nine Jimmy lost his house back in the spring Pawned his daddy's watch and his wedding ring Union hall is empty, coffee's going cold Steel don't care how hard you work or old When they shut the gates and the smoke clears out Who's gonna remember what we bled about Furnace number nine, she's burning low tonight Every man here wonders if he's next in line Hands black with soot, heart black with worry Furnace number nine