Verse 1
There’s a man on the job who don’t say much,
Keeps his hood down, keeps his touch.
Grinder sparks, and the metal sings,
He just lays rods and minds his things.
Ain’t lookin’ for trouble, ain’t beggin’ for fame,
He just works hard, sends home his pay.
A wife and kids wait back at home,
So he burns that rod and stands alone.
Verse 2
Then one day a young gun rolls on in,
Talkin’ big, throwin’ sparks in the wind.
Braggin’ ‘bout beads, talkin’ real loud,
Tryin’ to stand out in a roughneck crowd.
Said, “Ain’t nobody run a pass like me,
Stackin’ dimes, smooth as can be.”
But the old hand didn’t say a thing,
Just struck an arc, let the chisel sing.
Chorus
Ain’t about words, it’s about the weld,
‘Bout layin’ down skill where the hot rods melt.
You can boast all day, but steel don’t lie,
It shows the truth ‘fore the weld goes dry.
So burn it hot, lay it clean,
A real welder don’t need a scene.
Verse 3
Well, that young buck called him out,
Said, “Let’s see what you're really about.”
A weldin’ race, side by side,
Who’d lay the best before the rod ran dry?
The old man sighed, flipped his hood,
Did what years of labor could.
One steady hand, no wasted move,
Every inch had somethin’ to prove.
Bridge
When the smoke had cleared, the truth was laid,
The young one lost, his pride misplayed.
The old man’s seam, tight and bright,
While the young one’s ran too wide, too light.
No need for words, no need for sound,
Respect was built right there on the ground.
Chorus
Ain’t about words, it’s about the weld,
‘Bout layin’ down skill where the hot rods melt.
You can boast all day, but steel don’t lie,
It shows the truth ‘fore the weld goes dry.
So burn it hot, lay it clean,
A real welder don’t need a scene.
Outro
The young one learned, kept his pride at bay,
Watched and listened, let the torch show the way.
And as the workday settled down,
The old man smiled, without a sound.
No more noise, no boastin’ tall,
Just steady hands and a job done well.
SethKillroy