Mill Towns (Del McCoury)

Heard a voice call down From the lonesome north Singin' songs of the work and worth Hard edged stories from The hard rock towns I can picture Saturday night Tires squealin' from the main street lights Hear the crackin' of the cables On the cage as it's lowered down Hard edged stories from The streets of the mining town Don't follow me in boys Don't follow me in boys Don't follow me in boys Don't follow me down I was raised by the seaway side Staring out a the river wide Rode my bike up the bridge Looked back at the paper mill Through the windows I'd try and see What the future held for the likes of me I can hear the shift change siren still In the seaway city by the stacks Of the paper mill And the towns that rose with the mines and mills Watch the future pass Like they're standin' still And the kids all leave Like light when the sun goes down When you go back now And you walk the streets There's parking lots Where the buildings used to be Night still falls But it doesn't make a sound Long shadows fall On the streets of the cold mill towns