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