Verse 1:
Well, I packed up my rig and left old Virginia,
Bound for a job down in Mississippi’s clay.
Passed that test, thought I’d struck me gold,
But the numbers on the check didn’t match what they’d told.
The foreman’s face was lined with doubt,
And the boys at the site just ran their mouths.
Every night, my hands turned to stone,
Concrete in the cracks, never felt more alone.
Chorus:
But there's a fire that burns in a workin' man’s veins,
Even when the world just throws him rain.
I kept layin’ beads, through the sweat and the grime,
Maybe someone up high had a plan this time.
Verse 2:
Gave it my all, but that first big seam,
Failed inspection, shattered my dream.
A busted x-ray, and the boys turned their backs,
Like I was rust on a pipe, just a broke-down hack.
The weight of the world, heavy on my chest,
Stared at the steel, thought about what’s next.
But somewhere in the night, through the burn and the smoke,
A whisper told me, "Son, you ain't alone."
Chorus:
There’s a fire that burns in a workin’ man’s veins,
Even when the world just throws him rain.
I kept layin’ beads, through the sweat and the grime,
Maybe someone up high had a plan this time.
Verse 3:
Kept my head down, watched the old hands work,
Picked up their tricks, learned to move with the torch.
Saved what I could, bought my own gear,
Didn’t need their praise, just a future clear.
One day a greenhorn got stuck in a bind,
Tight spot weldin’, runnin’ outta time.
I flipped my mirror, held the wire just right,
Ran that puddle smooth, clean and tight.
Bridge:
Word got around like fire in the breeze,
And the weight on my shoulders started to ease.
Didn’t work for the nods or the pats on the back,
But it sure felt good gettin’ back on track.
Ending:
Now the arc still hums and the grinder still sings,
And I still get lost in the glow of the rings.
Wasn’t lookin’ for grace in the burn and the grind,
But maybe He had my back the whole dang time.
SethKillroy