The word “mill” tastes gray, bitter on the tongue
It’s where my daddy worked when we were young
In a dark valley it lay, like a beast in its lair
With the sharp saws screaming, and steam rising in the air
“Nights so cold, a hot bath and you could not break that chill”
Deaf and sore, don’t want no more, still you gotta go to the mill
Pull green chain to the bone till you hear that whistle moan
It’s a sacrifice that some have made to stay...in the mountains, in the mountains
Well, it feeds on the men there, it feeds on the trees
To sell to the cities, to build what they please
If you have to work there in order to survive
Beware of the mill, ‘cause it can eat you alive
“Hope I don’t get hurt, cause I’d be sure to lose some pay,
Wife and kids depending on me every damn day”
Pull green chain to the bone till you hear that whistle moan
It’s a sacrifice that some have made to stay... in the mountains, in the mountains
A dark figure waits, shivers against the snow
From the window his children stand and watch him go
Well, sawmill dust is running in his veins
Work like a fool, then you come home drained
Mill shuts down, no work in town, laid off, got no pay
If we can’t make those bills we might have to move away
It’s how you’ll spend your time, in the unemployment line
It’s a sacrifice that some have made to stay...in the mountains, in the mountains
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Lyrics submitted by Lowell.