East Coast Racer

Shaped for speed strong on the wing
(The sketches and designs were made)
Frames were laid by hand-picked men

Working every hour they had
(To build the fire, to make the engine)
Blows are struck to forge the steel
(So she can fly)

The road is clear and words remain unsaid
He walks the high wire

With the engines and men of the line.
(He sees love, he sees hope)
(He sees everything that they are)
The need to fly far
(He sees love) Love

Men as giants, hammers falling
Works' own heartbeat
Furnace stacks with black smoke rising
Steal the clean air

Here she comes

Joe and Tommy on the plate
(Their caps are worn in racing style)
Elbows jutting from the cab

Working every hour they had
(To build the fire, to drive the engine)
Looking to the road ahead

There was a lonely voice
And it spoke these words:
"Run hard as you like"

For the engines and men of the line
(He sees love, he sees hope)
(He sees everything that they are)
The need to fly far
(He sees love)

Men as giants feed the engine
Build the fire from cold
Coal and water, fire and steam
To drive the pistons home

He sees love

They ran south
Working up the bank
Past the upturned faces of
The platelayers

She starts to take her wing
She jumps to it like a living thing (like a living thing)
Made for speed and in full cry
They gave her the road
And she holds to the line

Church bells call
A beat along the track
She burns with
The substance of the land

Racing through the circling lines
A rocket in blue
Two miles a minute
Embers stream along her sides
From this far away now
She flies with them
Into sky

Into history
Into legend
She flies...