The story behind this song
Same gate since '85, same locker, number nine, same dent in the lunch pail from the day he dropped it on the line. Forty years of a four-thirty alarm he never once argued with, summers of swelter and winters with no heat, two kids put through school one shift at a time on bad knees and flat feet. He'd just call it a paycheck. There's a fishing rod that's been waiting in the corner of the shed.
For the dad clocking out for the last time — the rest of life is his now, not the line's.
Lyrics
Four-thirty alarm went quiet today
First time in forty years
First time in forty years
Same gate since '85, same locker, number nine
Lunch pail with the dent from where you dropped it on the line
You stood through summer swelter and the winters with no heat
And never missed a Monday on those bad knees and flat feet
Lunch pail with the dent from where you dropped it on the line
You stood through summer swelter and the winters with no heat
And never missed a Monday on those bad knees and flat feet
You called it just a paycheck
We called it everything
We called it everything
Forty years on the line, Dad — today you punch out proud
Two kids through school, a mortgage paid, one shift at a time
The whistle's blowing one last call, and we're the cheering crowd
Hang it up, old workhorse — the rest of life is yours, not the line's
Two kids through school, a mortgage paid, one shift at a time
The whistle's blowing one last call, and we're the cheering crowd
Hang it up, old workhorse — the rest of life is yours, not the line's
The smell of grease and metal that came home inside your shirt
The hands that turned to leather and the back that's earned its hurt
There's a fishing rod been waiting in the corner of the shed
And a sunrise with no time clock standing anywhere ahead
The hands that turned to leather and the back that's earned its hurt
There's a fishing rod been waiting in the corner of the shed
And a sunrise with no time clock standing anywhere ahead
Forty years you gave the plant your mornings
Now they're yours to spend
Now they're yours to spend
Forty years on the line, Dad — today you punch out proud
Two kids through school, a mortgage paid, one shift at a time
The whistle's blowing one last call, and we're the cheering crowd
Hang it up, old workhorse — the rest of life is yours, not the line's
Two kids through school, a mortgage paid, one shift at a time
The whistle's blowing one last call, and we're the cheering crowd
Hang it up, old workhorse — the rest of life is yours, not the line's
Every shoe I ever laced, every plate set at our table
Came off that line with your name on it — strong and built to last
Came off that line with your name on it — strong and built to last
Forty years on the line, Dad — today you punch out proud
Two kids through school, a mortgage paid, one shift at a time
The whistle's blowing one last call, and we're the cheering crowd
Hang it up, old workhorse — the rest of life is yours, not the line's
Two kids through school, a mortgage paid, one shift at a time
The whistle's blowing one last call, and we're the cheering crowd
Hang it up, old workhorse — the rest of life is yours, not the line's
Sleep in tomorrow, Dad
The fish are waiting on you now
The fish are waiting on you now
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