Small Town Factory

There's a small town factory beside
A rusty water tower that I once climbed
No one ever goes skipping into that place
No one ever walks out with a smile on his face

At our small town factory, behind are
Abandoned railroad tracks, all overgrown with vines
No more trains passing thru, or stopping at this place
No more kids throwing rocks, ending up in a chase

Small town fact'ry
Raised our family
Small town fact'ry
Fading fast from history

At a small town factory I applied
For my first real job, on the production line
No more late night gigs across the Hudson Bay
No more Rock 'n Roll life, no more running away

At a small town factory I try
To do my best work, and though I do it with pride
Still there's a song in my head, and a verse in my heart
And these tired working hands just dream of playing guitar

Small town fact'ry
What's my destiny?
Small town factory
Don't you dare take away my dreams...

Like my daddy who gave you his best years
When he should've been singing in all our best theatres
Like Mario Lanza, or Enrico Caruso

Oh, and me, I've got so much to give
And I just don't wanna end up like my daddy did
Wasting away in this place full of fear
Another unsung working class balladeer

Still every small town factory presides
With its shadows over the taverns where its good men have cried
Some have come to claim the life their work has taken away
Some have come to numb the sorrow of their last dying day

Near a small town factory resides
A little cemetery filled with forgotten lives
Of all the soldiers and workers that this town gave
In an earlier time, sent to an early grave

Small town fact'ry
Oh, a hundred fifty years of sweat, and toil, and memories

Small town factory
You're the heartbeat and soul of every home in our community

Fading small town factory
Don't you ever leave