Hillbilly Effigy

Sullen effigy How you vengefully burn Your bare coffers of coal, wood, and stone Sturdy gifts form the earth Set to ash in the sky Soundtracked by the factory's drone Yet these women and men From my grandfather's day Grew to be healthy, upright, and strong And so deafened within The machinery's din Cast themselves to the cruelest of cogs Hallelujah Hallelujah Thousands fell by the company gun Though the way may be dark Duty you must not shirk There's a mountain of work to be done Do you, stranger or friend Feel oblivion waits That no future is worth fighting for Lift your gaze, fist raised Find a new trail to blaze To those who'd keep our Vandalia poor Those who'd keep our Vandalia poor