No Charge Left in the Dark

[Intro] Two beats—hold your breath One kick, one note The bench stays loaded [Verse 1] The signal dies; the hole stays hot A red flag snaps against the rock I count the rods, i mark the face No second charge can take its place The clock hand grinds above the gate The trucks sit idling, burning late I call the crew; they should clear out They shoulder lamps and turn around [Chorus] We don’t leave a live hole behind Down the bench, one careful line Hands steady, eyes on the mark Bring every one of us back from the dark The shift can wait; the engines can burn We go together, and together return [Verse 2] Boots find the ladder, rung by rung The warning rope is tightly strung I test the collar, check the plan Call each movement; count each hand The driver kills the truck’s low growl The foreman watches from the foul Of dust and stone, the clock runs on We clear the charge before we’re gone [Chorus] We don’t leave a live hole behind Down the bench, one careful line Hands steady, eyes on the mark Bring every one of us back from the dark The shift can wait; the engines can burn We go together, and together return [Guitar solo] [Chorus] We don’t leave a live hole behind Down the bench, one careful line Hands steady, eyes on the mark Bring every one of us back from the dark The shift can wait; the engines can burn We go together, and together return [Outro] Count the crew Check the line Clear the bench Bring them home