Turn the Bypass Through the Night

[Ներածություն] [Տուն 1] Night shift, boiler room, 2:17 Feedwater needle drops below the green Valve wheel bucks hard against my hand Steam line cools through the hospital span A ward nurse calls: “we’re losing heat” I brace my boots and set my feet [Կրկներգ] Turn it, turn it—bring the pressure back The north wing’s cold and the pipes run slack You call it a bad gauge, say wait and see I’m cranking the bypass—believe me Turn it, turn it—hear the old line strain Keep the beds warm through the freezing rain [Տուն 2] The chief says, “read it once again” I tap the glass; it falls the same A red tag swings above the valve The handwheel bites; i hold it fast One quarter turn, then another inch The boiler coughs; the readings twitch “Stay on it,” comes the ward’s reply While condensate ticks like a clock nearby [Կրկներգ] Turn it, turn it—bring the pressure back The north wing’s cold and the pipes run slack You call it a bad gauge, say wait and see I’m cranking the bypass—believe me Turn it, turn it—hear the old line strain Keep the beds warm through the freezing rain [Guitar solo] [Կրկներգ] Turn it, turn it—bring the pressure back The north wing’s warm; the needle climbs past black Now you can read what i read all along The bypass holds and the heat comes on Turn it, turn it—let the night crew know We kept the wards warm when the pressure went low [Ելք] The handwheel stops; the pipes breathe slow The beds stay warm. the gauges hold.