Smother the Spark in the Chaff

[Кіріспе] [One bent low note, single snare; answering bend and sliding bass; full riff enters] [Куплет 1] You called me up to the headhouse floor When the dust collector coughed and spat A blue spark winked through the chaff-dry dark Then a red seam opened in the stack I grabbed the blanket off the hook Put my shoulder where the hot air rolled You kept the loading leg turning below While i beat that ember cold [Қайырма] That railcar’s half-full, and the headhouse is smoking You say keep it moving, keep the whole line going I’m holding fire down with both hands burning You’re counting every load while the dust keeps turning Half-full, half-blind, with the grain falling through I put out the spark; now i’m waiting on you [Куплет 2] The blanket came down black at the edge My gloves were split and my throat was raw You stood by the switch with your jaw set hard Like a stoppage was the worst thing you saw The cars clanked slow along the track A chain kept knocking against the rail I said, “shut it down till we know it’s dead” You said, “we’re not stopping this sale” [Қайырма] That railcar’s half-full, and the headhouse is smoking You say keep it moving, keep the whole line going I’m holding fire down with both hands burning You’re counting every load while the dust keeps turning Half-full, half-blind, with the grain falling through I put out the spark; now i’m waiting on you [Guitar solo] [Bent blues-tinged lead guitar over the greasy riff] [Қайырма] That railcar’s half-full, and the headhouse is smoking You say keep it moving, keep the whole line going I’m holding fire down with both hands burning You’re counting every load while the dust keeps turning Half-full, half-blind, hear the last kernels fall I put out the spark—but you won’t stop it all [Аутро] The blanket’s black; the hot seam’s gone The railcar waits with the work half-done You keep that leg turning; i keep watch alone Half-full in the dark till the danger is known