Bleed the Cellar Down

[Intro] [Distorted bass alone, two beats] [Two clipped guitar stabs; tom hit] [Drums lock into the lurching riff] [Verse 1] You said the gauge was lying again While the needle climbed past red Bottling line still coughing glass And the tank kept talking overhead I took the wrench from the pegboard hook You kept saying, “save the batch” That valve was frozen solid tight So i set my shoulder to the latch [Chorus] Hold that pressure—hold your ground Turn it by hand, don’t let it run You can argue for the beer all night I’m the one beneath the ton Crack the bleed and count it down Keep your perfect numbers clean If this cellar’s going to blow, boss It won’t be on my watch tonight [Verse 2] The hose bucked hard against my sleeve Cold foam stung across my face You called the yeast a living thing I called the floor a dangerous place One quarter turn, the pipe gave teeth A thin white jet cut through the air “Keep it steady,” you shouted down I said, “then come and take my share” [Chorus] Hold that pressure—hold your ground Turn it by hand, don’t let it run You can argue for the beer all night I’m the one beneath the ton Crack the bleed and count it down Keep your perfect numbers clean If this cellar’s going to blow, boss It won’t be on my watch tonight [Guitar solo] [Instrumental: clipped riff opens into a short, rising guitar solo] [Chorus] Hold that pressure—hold your ground Turn it by hand, don’t let it run You can argue for the beer all night I’m the one beneath the ton Crack the bleed and count it down Hear the glass line start again You can save your batch tomorrow— Get the crew out first, my friend [Outro] Gauge falls back Valve holds fast Line starts up We made it last