Strip Job Blues 1984

Well, he's coming off the mountain

Twenty ton in tow

Rides his brake till the windows shake

And every man hears it high and low

Let it slide down the ditch and cried

"This old hill's about to roll!"

You'll come away with more than a scratch or two

These strip job blues

Strip job blues

They say what you gain don't compare to what you lose

Blasted seams and muddy streams

Put the critters on the move

Running from these strip job blues

Now, he started out a greenhorn

When he was twenty-five

Cut his teeth on that Southfork lease

Sitting shot' till he learned to drive

Running loads down those winding roads

He'd bring them hills alive

And say, "Gotta be a mad man if you choose"

These strip job blues

Strip job blues

They say what you gain don't compare to what you lose

Keep it low when the mountain goes

Don't be staring at your shoes

Walking 'round these strip job blues

Now, he's loading up the 'dozer

Chaining down the tracks

Making room for the reclaim crew on their way to try n' bring it back

In a little time, there'll be brush and pine

Where those deer can rub their racks

Sit up high and hear 'em come crashing through

These strip job blues

Strip job blues

They say what you gain don't compare to what you lose

Working down in those mining towns

You know there's many more than few

Living out those strip job blues

Yeah, you know they're

Living out those strip job blues