Crawl Where the Hot Wheels Roll

[Intro] [Instrumental: harmonized twin-guitar thirds, rolling tom build] [Chorus] The fan has locked, the tunnel bakes Steel rails sweat beneath the brakes Dispatch says, “keep the timetable alive” I crawl where the hot wheels thunder by [Verse] The gauge climbs past the red-mark line Summer heat trapped in the spine I kill the feed, the blade won’t turn Dust in my teeth, my gloves still burn I wedge through ductwork, shoulder low While packed trains hammer below “Hold service,” comes the flat reply As the platform climbs another five [Chorus] The fan has locked, the tunnel bakes Steel rails sweat beneath the brakes Dispatch says, “keep the timetable alive” I crawl where the hot wheels thunder by [Verse] A wrench slips loose against the frame The stalled fan waits like a buried flame I reach the hub, brace both feet Feel each passing train shake the sheet One stubborn blade, a hand’s-width turn A groan runs through the duct in return “Don’t slow down,” crackles the line I shove once more against the grind [Guitar solo] [Instrumental: harmonized twin-guitar lead solo over chugging riff and rolling toms] [Chorus] The fan has locked, the tunnel wakes Cool air cuts through the iron haze Dispatch keeps every signal green I free the blade; the vents pull clean The trains still run, the platform breathes I climb back out on shaking knees [Outro] The fan turns hard, the duct draws air The next train roars; i’m still down there