Swing the Grab Above the Pit

[Intro] [Instrumental: bent low guitar note, snare hit, tambourine tap] [Verse 1] Shift bell cuts through the furnace roar Bucket hangs where it shouldn't hang Red feed light says keep it moving Control room barks through the speaker grille I take the cab-side walkway slow Hot air breathing up through the grate One hand on the rail, one on the chain You want the rate? then wait [Chorus] Hold that feed, hold that line That grab is stuck above the fire I’m out on the rail with the hook in my hand No green light till it swings again Hold that feed, hear me clear The pit is hungry, i’m still here [Verse 2] Grease on the latch, heat on my cheek The bucket teeth are caught askew I lean my shoulder into the pin While the whole floor shakes below “Keep it steady,” the room insists Like a number can loosen steel I wrench it free; the jaws swing wide Now tell me what the gauges feel [Chorus] Hold that feed, hold that line That grab was stuck above the fire I’m back in the cab, the hook in its place And soot keeps drawing a map on my face Hold that feed, hear me clear The pit is hungry, i’m still here [Guitar solo] [Instrumental: greasy bent blues-metal guitar solo over palm-muted riff and lurching drums] [Chorus] Hold that feed, hold that line The grab swings clean above the fire I’m back at the wheel; the jaws bite down And the shift bell shakes the whole damn town Hold that feed, hear me clear The pit is hungry, i’m still here [Outro] Bucket swings, the red light turns The next crew waits by the painted line I wipe my palm on the coveralls And let the feed roll on