Rock the Machine

I'm losing will love

My hands are soft as cotton gloves

Machine has eaten up my job

My meaning, my cause

Machine with the strength of a hundred men

Can't feed and clothe my children

Can't greet a sailor coming in

Or know of desperation

I shoveled coal down Spencer's Dock

I took you dear into wedlock

And you did bear us a beautiful flock

River rock the machine down on the docks

River rock the machine until it stops

O low Liffey show me gold

Like a heron I will go

O roaring Liffey when you're high

Like a cormorant I will dive

And the gold will glow and I will rise

With gold enough to wind back time

With gold enough to win back pride

River rock the machine until it dies

Today dear I am unemployed

Before I spoke you read my eyes

I feared over nothing or no one

But I feel old and I'm so young

I miss the graft, I miss the boys

I plead for purpose in the void

Time is inward ticking tighter

I wish my load was a mountain lighter

I shoveled coal down Spencer's Dock

I took you dear into wedlock

And you did bear us a beautiful flock

River rock the machine down on the docks

River rock the machine until it stops

O low Liffey show me gold

Like a heron I will go

O roaring Liffey when you're high

Like a cormorant I will dive

And the gold will glow and I will rise

With gold enough to wind back time

With gold enough to win back pride

River rock the machine until it dies

River rock the machine down on the docks

River rock the machine until it stops