Industry Songtext
von Lee Clayton

I grew up surrounded by fences
Electrified in three in a row
With machine gun nests at the entrances to town
And plants that any minute could go
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
Flat 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, a watch, and 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 plan
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 got take to Mars
And one little tear in an airtight suit
And I doubt if he could get to his car
And ain't it funny how all of the big boys
Seem always packing their bags
And headed somewhere that the water is clear
And the air don't make you gag

Industry
It makes me sick and well


People we think ourselves blameless
Let′s call a spade a spade
It always takes two to tango my friend
And we′re half, half of this beautiful dame
And kindly sold out too cheaply
For her cars and her color TVs
But I guess the price doesn't matter too much
When you′re drug crazed, you're easy to please

Industry
Praise industry
Of the people, by the people, for the people
And yea though we walk through the valleys of the shadows
Let us fear no evil
Our industry