Carbreaker

Down the yard is a garage
where the cars are hard
white as lard, blue as bone
red as a phone
mechanics lift another Ford
without a cry or a groan
and the nightshift begins
the work of the lord
We will make and we will break
we will make and we will break
we will make mistakes
make no mistake, we will on the make
we will make and we will break
we will make and we will break
Down the yard is a garage
where the babies assemble for prayers and parades
washing the brain and washing the braid
nailed to the floor
they only want more
clawing their way forward
they open the door
And stand there still
almost falling but mustering their skill
to stand still, still standing still
always so still, stiller than still
still standing still
and master is clapping, clapping, calling
Down the yard life is hard
we work all day, we work all night
in daylight, in moonlight
skin filthy with oil and sweat
banging the clanger of a bell
down the bottom of a well
Under arc lights, fire lights, endless nights
of toil and heat, hungry for sleep
back breaking slaving, dead on our feet
With a short speech, the Galapagos tortoise
gallops into eternity
"I must away, away!"
It calls out as it sails away
it calls out as it sails away
it calls out as it sails away
while you would love to be a celebrity
out the infection breaks
and there's nothing, nothing, nothing left to celebrate
Down the yard is a garage
where the cars are hard
life is hard