Thanks to the meatworkers at QMeat and their union, the Australasian Meat Industry Employees Union, who participated in 'The Music Shift' project, for which this song was written.
lyrics
On The Chain
His grandfather’s ghost watches over him,
Summer days standing barefoot on the killing floor,
Skilled with a knife, rarely scored a hide,
Keeping the tally in sight,
Good times come,
Flesh on the bone,
Good times, good times
He’s on the chain, he’s on the chain
Shoulder to shoulder on the chain
In his grandfather’s footsteps he followed,
From a boy to a man moving up the line,
Hard on the wrist working on the chain,
Keeping the boredom at bay,
Hard times come,
Cut to the bone,
Hard times, hard times
He’s on the chain, he’s on the chain
Shoulder to shoulder on the chain
Did his grandfather’s ghost softly shudder,
Will the victories and losses fade in history,
Who pays the price, who’ll make the gain,
When his livelihood comes up for sale?
Strange times come,
Plans and chance collide,
Strange times, strange times.
He’s on the chain, he’s on the chain
Shoulder to shoulder on the chain
credits
from Satellites,
released March 3, 2017
from Satellites, released December, 2016
words and music: Lachlan Hurse and Sue Monk
Guitar and vocal: Sue Monk
Electric bass: Lachlan Hurse
Tenor sax: Ross Gwyther
Electric guitar: Rob Stewart
Drums: Dan Simpson
Congas and percussion: James Harper
Jumping Fences is an enduring musical partnership between Sue Monk and Lachlan Hurse. Their original works contain imagery
and styles that reveal both an incisive insight into Australian life and a long association with Latin American culture.
Performances feature Sue's rich voice, her rhythmic guitar technique and the colour of Lachlan's innovative bass style....more
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