Winter's Wage [1]

[Verse 1] Grandmother's fingers, weathered and wise Darning old stockings under dim winter skies Factory smoke and the whistle's last call While Newcastle's children learn how to fall And rise, and rise again [Chorus] This winter's wage ain't gonna break me down Though frost bites deep in this northern town With thread and needle, we'll stitch it through Like mama taught me, like her mama knew We survive, we survive [Verse 2] Empty cupboards and hand-me-down coats Second-hand dreams that barely float But mama's singing through gritted teeth Making something from nothing underneath These northern lights [Bridge] The machines may rust, the jobs may fade But we've got spirit that can't be frayed Like patches sewn on worn-out jeans We hold together by any means In these factory nights [Chorus] This winter's wage ain't gonna break me down Though frost bites deep in this northern town With thread and needle, we'll stitch it through Like mama taught me, like her mama knew We survive, we survive [Verse 3] There's pride in the way we make ends meet In borrowed blankets and borrowed heat Community strong when times get rough Teaching daughters to be twice as tough As circumstance [Outro] So let them say we're just getting by While we're weaving gold from winter's sky 'Cause grandmother's wisdom runs in my veins And her quiet strength still remains Through these northern lights and factory nights We rise, we rise again Like hope in the morning, we rise