Bitter Road

Outside the darkened factory
Now the winds of winter blow
The jobs were seeking sunshine
So they moved to Mexico
The corporate man he shook my hand
And said he wished me well
And wrapped the chain around the door
And damned this town to hell

Stubborn hearted, holding on
I watched the others go
To leave the life we've always known
And walk the bitter road

Three generations on the job
My dad and grandpa too
We worked the mill from dawn 'til dusk
The only life we knew
We knew the work inside and out
We felt the craftsmen's pride
And on that day the mill shut down
Then something sacred died

Stubborn hearted, holding on
I watched the others go
To leave the life we've always known
And walk the bitter road

So I sit here inside my house
With winter coming on
The best and brightest of this town
Have moved away and gone
The skies are gray, the trees are bare
The fire is growing dim
I'm waiting for a springtime
That may never come again

Stubborn minded, left behind
I'm choosing not to go
I cling on to this life I've known
Here on the bitter road