Hold The Line

[Verse 1]
At the factory gate, dawn came hard
Smoke on the river, sparks in the yard
Hands on the rail, fists in the rain
Some came shouting, some came in pain

They said, “Stand up, stand up now”
Like iron wakes when it learns how
But sirens cut through the heavy air
And blue shields lined up everywhere

[Pre-Chorus]
Then the line went still
For a breath, for a beat
Boots on the gravel
And tension in the street

[Chorus]
Hold the line tonight
Hold the line tonight
Dear President, we’re standing firm
Hold the line tonight

(hold the line)
Hold the line tonight
Shields up high in the cold hard light
Hold the line tonight

[Verse 2]
Crowds rolled forward, shoulder to shoulder
Faces hot with the early October
Pale street banners snapped in the wind
Every cracked voice called it a sin

Police stepped fast with batons raised
Not for glory, not for praise
Just a wall of steel in a shaken town
Keeping the whole thing from burning down

[Pre-Chorus]
And the noise got mean
Like thunder on tin
One spark away
From where it all begins

[Chorus]
Hold the line tonight
Hold the line tonight
Dear President, we’re standing firm
Hold the line tonight

(hold the line)
Hold the line tonight
Shields up high in the cold hard light
Hold the line tonight

[Bridge]
I saw my brother in the front row
I saw my neighbor I used to know
We were all just trying to stay alive
In a town where the hard days don’t arrive

Then a voice cut through, clear and loud
“Back up now, calm this crowd”
And the fear sat heavy, deep and slow
Like winter waiting in the snow

[Final Chorus]
Hold the line tonight
Hold the line tonight
Dear President, we’re standing firm
Hold the line tonight

(hold the line)
Hold the line tonight
Shields up high in the cold hard light
Hold the line tonight

Hold the line tonight
Hold the line tonight
When the factory bells ring out again
Hold the line tonight