garbage

“Methane and Fire” (Hard-driving. No frills. Banjo kicks, fiddle follows.) ________________________________________ Verse 1 Never thought I’d be haulin’ trash Past a dyin’ sun, Dreamed of brass and battle flags— But that ain’t for my kind, son. ________________________________________ Verse 2 Noble boys get silver ships, Common boys get scrap, Strap an engine to a can And haul it out and back. ________________________________________ Chorus I was a garbage pilot On the back side of the sky, With a tank of rot and methane And no one passin’ by. But when the Crown took fire In that cold red glow, I lit the dark with garbage— And I laid that shadow low. (Short fiddle lick) ________________________________________ Verse 3 Two years runnin’ quiet loads, Dead rock, turn and burn, Till the old board cracked alive— “Warp drive. Unknown return.” ________________________________________ Verse 4 Zoomed in the screen and saw her clear— Royal colors bright, Missiles burstin’ round her hull In the backwoods of the night. ________________________________________ Verse 5 Black ship slid like a copperhead, Cold as river stone, Arrowhead and engine glow— Huntin’ blood and throne. ________________________________________ Chorus I was a garbage pilot On the back side of the sky, With a rusted maglock coupler And a one-shot rock gun by. But when the Crown took fire In that cold red glow, I lit the dark with garbage— And I laid that shadow low. ________________________________________ Verse 6 My ship ain’t built for war at all, Just engines, wire, and will, One small cannon meant for stone— But it’ll bark and kill. ________________________________________ Verse 7 Shrapnel tore my cargo tank, Methane kissed the black, I said, “Lord, that’s somethin’…” And I never did look back. ________________________________________ Break (Half-time stomp) Cut her loose… Count to five… Swing her wide… Stay alive… (Band slams back in) ________________________________________ Verse 8 Cannon cracked and fire rolled Where that container struck, Gas and spark and rebel flame— Pure backwoods luck. ________________________________________ Verse 9 Shadow ship went limpin’ off, Burnin’ through the seam, Not bad pay for rotten waste And a common feller’s dream. ________________________________________ Final Chorus (Lift it high) I was a garbage pilot On the back side of the sky, With a hold of stink and methane And no one ridin’ by. But when the Crown called desperate In that cold red glow, A common hand lit freedom— And laid that shadow low. ________________________________________ Tag (Sharp, old-time ending) Still a common pilot. Still flyin’ wide and far. But I don’t haul just garbage now— I haul the Prince and war. (Hard stop.)