[Verse 1]
There’s a whistle that don’t blow no more
’Cept the wind through the pines by the ol’ front door
Of the mill that raised my daddy, and his daddy before him
Brick walls fading like the paint on the water tower
Folks countin’ paychecks by the hour
When the gates locked up, felt like the sun quit risin’
[Pre-Chorus]
But we ain’t ones to lay down in the dust
Carolina clay’s built outta grit and trust
[Chorus]
So we’re standin’ strong in this mill town
Fiddles cryin’ but we won’t bow down
Bass thumpin’ like the heartbeat of the Blue Ridge dawn
Guitar pickin’ out a working man’s song
Yeah, they shut us out but they ain’t breakin’ us down
We’re standin’ strong… in this ol’ mill town
[Verse 2]
Mama’s keepin’ shelves full in her little roadside store
Boys fixin’ trucks like their daddy did before
And Sunday choir still rings through the valley hollow
Evenin’ sun hits the hawks up high
And we swear we hear the old mill sigh
But hope’s growin’ where the smokestacks used to swallow
[Pre-Chorus]
You can push us hard, but we don’t ever fold
Mountain folks are forged in the cold
[Chorus]
’Cause we’re standin’ strong in this mill town
Fiddles cryin’ but we won’t bow down
Bass thumpin’ like the heartbeat of the Blue Ridge dawn
Guitar pickin’ out a working man’s song
Yeah, they shut us out but they ain’t breakin’ us down
We’re standin’ strong… in this ol’ mill town
[Bridge]
Maybe the paper ain’t rollin’ no more
But dreams still do, through every back porch door
We’ll build somethin' new from the dust and the pride
’Cause mountain hearts never run and hide
[Final Chorus]
We’re standin’ strong in this mill town
Through the highs, the lows, and the shutdowns
Fiddle’s flyin’ like a voice that won’t be gone
Guitar hummin’ that “carry on”
Yeah, the lights went out but the people still shine proud
We’re standin’ strong… in this ol’ mill town