Dress the Joint Straight

[Intro] [Verse 1] Night shutdown, curve nine, torch burns white Thermite poured; the inspector says it failed He taps the crown, says the gauge runs high I mark the cut while the clock eats light [Chorus] Cut it back, grind it true That rail has to carry the first train through Argue all night, the measure won't bend We dress this joint till the flaw meets its end [Verse 2] Hand on the grinder, sparks strike the plate I chase the curve by a fraction at a time He keeps his clipboard between us both I tell him, “check it when the wheel runs straight” [Chorus] Cut it back, grind it true That rail has to carry the first train through Argue all night, the measure won't bend We dress this joint till the flaw meets its end [Guitar solo] [Instrumental: short harmonized guitar solo over the locked riff] [Chorus] Cut it back, grind it true That rail has to carry the first train through Argue all night, the measure won't bend We dress this joint till the flaw meets its end [Outro] First test train due at morning light One last pass—then check the line