Mentana - Shutdown

He’s coming back from a shutdown

Like a distant squall on the harbour

Who’s up on the night watch?

He’ll be rambling soon for the seagull waltz

He’s been gone for the last eight months

Better lay those shots for the living night Jack

Who’s next in line?

There’s no woman here

Who could tame his thirst

He’s up for a good old fight

Better keep your cool when he’s playing with a jackknife

Too late for shelter

The eastern gale has hit the coast

Who thought he could be the king

But when the cash flow’s high

The man’s gone wild

He knows his freedom is like a match

When the time has come, the time has gone

He spends a long time

Working for a living

Hell, a long time

Working, working

Yeah a long time

Working for a living

He spends a long time

Waiting, waiting

Now the streets are naked

Restless neons passing by

Too late for the last drop

Just burning flags and lonely souls

He’ll be mulling in the night

One more track to drown his shivers

Hold back the morning light

All those years just sipping on faith

He spends a long time

Working for a living

Hell, a long time

Working, working

Yeah a long time

Working for a living

He spends a long time

Waiting, waiting

The days seems longer

When he’s working

And he can’t see the end

No—just long, long hours

Far from home

In the northern lands

Where the sun don’t shine

In his winter grave