Bite Down the Stone

[Intro] [Instrumental: high tremolo guitar and sustained strings, bass enters, full band] [Verse 1] The gauge was at the red mark when i took the midnight round The outlet gate was split ajar; the wheel would not turn down By dawn the east tank coughed, the school taps ran to air I heard the board debate their shares while water vanished there [Chorus] Hold fast, iron wheel, bite down into the stone I’ll turn this gate by hand before the last drop’s gone You can argue over numbers while the low line disappears I’m up here with the falling gauge and a town that thirsts for years [Verse 2] The tower ladder shook beneath my boots and salted hands Each tooth of rust gave way a little, then the spindle jammed I braced my shoulder to the bar; the chain began to strain Below, the empty mains kept coughing dust across the plain [Chorus] Hold fast, iron wheel, bite down into the stone I’ll turn this gate by hand before the last drop’s gone You can argue over numbers while the low line disappears I’m up here with the falling gauge and a town that thirsts for years [Guitar solo] [Instrumental: harmonized high guitar solo over chugging riffs] [Breakdown] One notch—hear the linkage crack Two more—don’t let it slide back No vote can turn this iron wheel No paper can make the water real [Chorus] Hold fast, iron wheel, bite down into the stone I’ll turn this gate by hand before the last drop’s gone You can argue over numbers while the low line disappears I’m up here with the falling gauge— I’m keeping this town here [Outro] The needle holds above the line; the wheel is locked in place A thin stream finds the lower pipe and runs toward every face [Instrumental: ringing tremolo guitar over sustained strings]