Find the Buried Shutoff

[Intro] [Verse 1] The kickoff clock reads twenty-five A white line waits beneath the flags Then water punches through the ground And turns the center circle black I grab the spade, you grab the radio The head groundsman says, “find the feed” While two men shout across the touchline And every boot sinks past the knee [Chorus] I’m digging for the shutoff valve With the whole stand counting down The referee tests the drowned-out grass And shakes his head at me Keep the final on its feet Keep the water from the field I’ll find that iron wheel by hand Before the whistle seals our fate [Verse 2] The sprinkler main has split below The old west box by section eight The crew debate whose map is wrong As sheets of water flood the paint I wrench the spade through clay and gravel A groundsman hands me shears and wire The referee is measuring the turf While the captains watch the rising mire [Chorus] I’m digging for the shutoff valve With the whole stand counting down The referee tests the drowned-out grass And shakes his head at me Keep the final on its feet Keep the water from the field I’ll find that iron wheel by hand Before the whistle seals our fate [Guitar solo] [Verse 3] The blade hits metal under mud I clear the teeth with both bare hands The crew goes quiet, then leans in As i turn hard against the jam One groan, one shudder, then the spray Falls to a trickle by the goal The referee walks out to check I press the valve shut to the bone [Chorus] I found the buried shutoff valve The whole stand’s roaring now The referee tests the stubborn grass Then gives the signal down Keep the final on its feet Keep the water from the field We held the line beneath the pitch And brought the game to life [Outro]