No Cage Descends

[Intro] [Instrumental: harmonized twin guitars, rolling tom build] [Chorus] Hold that cage—hold the line! Hands on iron, buy them time! Shift bell rings, but no one rides Till every miner clears the mine! [Verse] The brake shoe skates; the cable sings, Salt dust bites the back of my throat. I brace the lever, shoulders down, And feel the loaded cage still groan. Below, the lamps are turning home; Above, the clock chews through the hour. The manager points to the next descent— I tell him, “not while i hold power.” [Chorus] Hold that cage—hold the line! Hands on iron, buy them time! Shift bell rings, but no one rides Till every miner clears the mine! [Verse] He wants the second cage sent down; I want a headcount, name by name. My palms are raw against the wheel, The brake is hot, the frame is strained. “Your shift is done,” he snaps at me. I watch the needle jerk and climb. “Then take this handle,” i answer back— “Keep it steady till they’re all in time.” [Guitar solo] [Instrumental: harmonized twin-guitar solo over galloping riff] [Chorus] Hold that cage—hold the line! Hands on iron, buy them time! Shift bell rings, but no one rides Till every miner clears the mine! Hold that cage—hold the line! One by one, they reach the light! When the last lamp clears the shaft, We let the wheels turn right! [Outro] No cage descends till all are clear! No cage descends till all are clear! [Instrumental: galloping riff, harmonized guitar resolve]