Chapin, Harry - The Day They Closed The Factory Down Lyrics






She said, "I watch him walk down Main Street A sweet one man parade.
He'd tip his hat and just like that another score he'd made
I'd watch the girls all watch him; moths drawn to the flame.
The money showed, the laughter flowed from the way he played the game.
He played the game.

"Some said he was a rambler, some said he was a rake .
Some said he was a gambler, some said he was a fake.
But I knew him like no one else, a gentleman was he.
His days belonged to himself, his nights belonged to me.
Belonged to me.

"And they're talkin' in the town square,
In the taverns and the shops
I hear them talkin' everywhere.
Their talkin' never stops.
But all their words of wisdom won't make you go away.
The day they closed the factory down they had nothing,
Nothing left to say.

She said, "I take care of my momma now, since my father died.
I'm raising baby brother, too, the way my father tried.
His thirty years in the factory ended in that furnace blast.
But they settled up for ten bucks a week and the bitterness is past,
It did not last.

"So they're moving somewhere else now
With their cloths and fabric press.
They found themselves another town where they'll make shirts for less.
And that is why he said last night he won't watch the old town die.
But I would not take what he tried to leave, when he told me 'Good bye'
Ah, it's good bye

"And they're talkin' in the town square,
In the taverns and the shops.
I hear them talkin' everywhere.
Their talkin' never stops.
But all their words of wisdom won't make you go away.

The day they closed the factory down they had nothing,
Nothing left to say"
"So they're talkin' of the changes the closing brings about.
Talkin' of the hard times and the young folks moving out.
Yes, they're talking as if talking can make everything all right.
But all the talking ever done won't bring him back tonight.
Ah, tonight.

And they're talkin' talkin' talkin' talkin'
Talkin' in the shops
I hear them talkin' everywhere.
Their talkin' never stops.
But all their words of wisdom won't make you go away.
The day they closed the factory down they had nothing
Nothing left to say."





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Chapin, Harry The Day They Closed The Factory Down Comments
  1. D.... T....

    But I would"t take what I he tried to leave, I miss Harry still

  2. J.... M....

    This Administration is so good at hiding the truth. All our factories our moving to Mexico and our jobs are being taken by cheap illegal labor. That's the new American way... take care of refugees and screw the American citizens. Thanks barack O'Nada.

    J.... M....

    James Mongan Blaming poor foreigners and immigrants solves nothing. It is the fault of capitalism. Only a planned socialist economy can guarantee employment.

  3. D.... H....

    Harry Chapin was more than a singer he was the best story teller. Gone to soon.

  4. e.... ....

    Harry Chapin was a man far-ahead of his time. Geez, how appropriate is this song today (due to our horrific economy)? We miss you Harry.

  5. O.... T....

    "If you always do what you always did, you'll always get what you always got. -or, probably, less." - something my dad told me a long time ago. When I heard this song, back in '78 or so, I knew Harry had put it to Music...and...that big storm in the distance? The one we've been hearing for the last forty years? - It is almost here.

  6. l.... ....

    I was not even alive in the 70's and I relate to this song. Two months before I graduated from college in 2005, I meant a man who was laid off from the GM factory when it closed in NJ. I felt so sorry for him and little did I know, I too would be struggling to find work because of the recession.

  7. M.... C....

    Thanks for posting this
    I thought I knew all of his songs. there are millions of us baby boomer who welcome anything done by the story teller of our time.

  8. C.... ....

    Very well done, thankyou. :) sharing this.

  9. B.... A....

    This song speaks of yet another reason to "Occupy Wallstreet". Thank you for sharing.

  10. C.... K....

    thank you

  11. b.... w....

    good work

  12. l.... ....

    You're not your.

  13. l.... ....

    @acebrock87 Thanks, your the first person to comment on this.

  14. A.... B....

    Strangely appropriate