Lee Clayton - Industry
I grew up surrounded by electrified fences and three in a row.
With
machine-gun nests at the entrances to town and plants that could go at any
minute.
They made the first atomic bomb 'cross the hill from where I
played.
Me and the dog used to hide in the woods when the guards were
checking for strays.
I remember fire engines in the night crying out and
terrified.
Physicists cracking beneath the strain and their children, my
friends, terrified.
Industry - that 's why.
My father worked hard
for thirty-two years for a sweater and a watch a clock.
And a heartbeat that
doesn‘t push blood very well through veins as hard as a rock.
Three years
away from retirement, they forced him to take a new job.
And as the
hatchet-man for the company clan, he was hated and he was cursed like a
dog.
But he kicked and he clawed, he cursed back and he cried-- a tired man
running on his pride.
He got the job done though it cost him his
legs.
Thanks, Union Carbide.
Industry- -father forgive
industry.
My brother works now in a sparkling clean room wearing clothes
he could take to Mars.
One little tear in that airtight suit and I doubt if
he could get to his car.
And ain‘t it funny how all of the big boys seem to
always be packing their bags?
And headed somewhere that the water is
clear.
And the air, don‘t make me gag.
Industry- -it makes me
sick.
And while, people, we think ourselves blameless, oh, let's call a
spade a spade.
It always takes two to tango, my friend, and we are half of
this beautiful day.
Could it be we have sold out too cheaply for our cars and
our color TV's?
But I guess the price doesn 't matter too much.
hen you're
drug-crazed, you're easy to please.
Industry, industry-- praise of the
people, by the people, for the people.
And yea though we walk through the
valley of the shadows, let us fear no evil--or industry.
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