Devil in the Steel

by Daniel Kelly - 2022
A
When we first came to this country,
We toiled with our hands,
G
Breaking stone and cutting trees,
D
All across the land.

A
But then there came a magic,
G
From far across the sea,
E
A way to trap the Geni,
     D         G         A
So the people might be free,

E
Devil in the steel,
D
Devil in the steel,
G                  D
No one asked how he feels,
A
That devil in the steel.
G
He works to pack our hay bales,
D
He works to grind the corn,
E
That devil’s been a working,
G             D         A
Since the day that he was born.

We trapped him in the iron,
We trapped him in the steel,
We fed him on the diesel,
And listened to him squeal,

We cooled his fire with water,
Lest he should get to hot,
While spinning up the fly wheel,
With everything he’s got.

Chorus

Sometime that devil’s angry,
He’ll take an arm or hand,
From any pool unlucky soul,
Not careful where he stands.

If it wasn’t for that devil,
This country wouldn’t run,
We still worship that devil,
For all the work he’s done.