Factory
Working Life Chronicles: Bruce Springsteen's Ode to the Factory Grind
Lyrics
Early in the morning factory whistle blows
Commencement of the workday as signaled by the factory whistle.
Man rises from bed and puts on his clothes
A man begins his day, getting up and dressing for work.
Man takes his lunch, walks out in the morning light
The man takes his lunch and heads out into the morning light.
It's the working, the working, just the working life
Emphasis on the repetitive nature of working life.
Through the mansions of fear, through the mansions of pain
Reference to challenges and difficulties symbolized by "mansions of fear" and "mansions of pain."
I see my daddy walking through them factory gates in the rain
The speaker recalls seeing their father walking through the factory gates in challenging conditions.
Factory takes his hearing, factory gives him life
The factory has both negative and positive impacts on the father - it takes his hearing but gives him a livelihood.
The working, the working, just the working life
Reiteration of the focus on the daily grind and challenges of working life.
End of the day, factory whistle cries
End of the workday marked by the factory whistle.
Men walk through these gates with death in their eyes
Mention of workers leaving the factory with a sense of mortality.
And you just better believe, boy
A warning or acknowledgment that something harmful might happen.
Somebody's gonna get hurt tonight
Anticipation of danger or conflict arising from the hardships of the working life.
It's the working, the working, just the working life
Reiteration of the central theme of the challenges inherent in the working life.
Oh it's the working, the working, just the working life
Repetition for emphasis on the nature of the working life.
Uh hmm hmm hmm hmm hmm
Repetition of vocalizations, perhaps indicating a sense of resignation or acceptance.
Uh hmm hmm hmm hmm hmm
-Uh hmm hmm hmm hmm hmm
-Uh hmm hmm hmm hmm hmm
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