Ralph McTell - Factory Girl lyrics

Hurrying across the bridge before
The siren's call
This morning she's racing her shadow
Along the factory wall
Then through the gate
Where she will wait in line
To cross the yard, to clock her card in time
And under her scarf, her hair set in curls
The day begins for the factory girl

For a while the girls try to talk
But their voices soon drowned in the din
And their eyes watch their hands do the work
And a new day's rhythm begins
No change today, like yesterday, the same
But it's dinner soon, then afternoon
Then home
And hurrying home in the fading light
The factory girl is going out tonight

Her momma says: "Don't be late
You've got to get up again before eight"
"Oh yes", she sighs
But there's joy in her eyes
As she runs down the path through the gate

And out on the rainy streets hoping
That her night will last
No whispering palms on the beach, for her
Just the swish of the cars going past
But she believes no one could feel the same
Touching and whispering in the rain
But the rain takes away her beautiful curls
The night is soon gone for the factory girl

And hurrying across that bridge
Before the siren's call
This morning she's skipping the puddles
All along the factory wall
A starling sings, and shakes his wings
She smiles
Then at the gate, she hesitates, for a while
Then from inside the gates, the sirens roar
And across the yard runs the factory girl