Forged in fire

Forged in Fire

The time clock quit at four in the afternoon

Foreman looked down, wouldn't meet my eyes

Said, “We're cutting deep,” then he shut that door

Twelve hours of my life walked out that door

Started before the sun could break the ground

Four in the morning, that was my sound

Gave them my hands, my back, and my name

Watched that gate slam shut on a life in flames

For a second, that darkness tried to take me

Old thunder in my blood like it used to break me

From the iron and the fire to the silence at the gate

I'm learning who I am when they take the work away

I used to grip the steel with a working man's pride

Now I'm holding on to what's still left inside

It's a long road home when you're stripped to the bone

But I walked through the fire and I'm not alone

They can take the job, but they can't take my name

I was forged in fire, made by the flame

“Fists and Not Fathers” still walks that hall

Hard lessons carved in every wall

Anger talked loud when my heart stayed closed

Quick way to feel strong when you're breaking slow

I laid that ghost down one hard day at a time

Slipped a ring on her hand and rewrote my life

Then the bad news hit like a runaway train

And that old ache whispered my name again

But her porch light cut through the windshield glass

Reminded me of every hard mile I already passed

From the iron and the fire to the silence at the gate

I'm learning who I am when they take the work away

I used to grip the steel with a working man's pride

Now I'm holding on to what's still left inside

It's a long road home when you're stripped to the bone

But I walked through the fire and I'm not alone

They can take the job, but they can't take my name

I was forged in fire, made by the flame

I'm not a number on a layoff sheet

Not the dirt kicked up on a dead-end street

I'm the man who stayed when leaving was easy

The one who came back when the dark tried to keep me

I've worn these chains, but I got back up

Always had more heart than anyone could explain

If the old road calls, let it call all night

I got a wife and a life worth more than the fight

From the iron and the fire to the silence at the gate

I found out who I am when they took the work away

I used to grip the steel with a working man's pride

Now I'm holding on for real—to the hands that stay alive

It's a long road home when you're stripped to the bone

But I walked through the fire and I'm not alone

They can take the job, but they can't take my name

I was forged in fire, made by the flame

Let the gate close

Let the sparks die down

I'm headed home

To the ones who know me now

Forged in fire

Made by the flame

I'll find my way

Yeah, I'll find my way