Factory girl    (Listen to sample)

 

      D                             Em         A                      D

1. Hurrying across the bridge before the sirens call,

                                                       Em              A                         D

    this morning she's chasing her shadow, all along the factory wall.

                G                                                        D

    And through the gate, where she will wait in line,

          G                                                    D

    to cross the yard, to clock her card in time.

                               E            G              D

    And under her scarf, her hair set in curls,

                       E               G         D

    the day begins for the factory girl.

 

                 D                          Em 

2. For a while the girls try to talk,

                   A                                      D

    but their voices soon drown in the din,

                                                                     Em 

    and their eyes watch their hands do the work,

                A                              D

    and a new day's rhythm begins.

             G                                                 D

    No change today, like yesterday, the same,

           G                                                     D

    but dinner soon, then afternoon, then home.

                            E                G       D

    And hurrying home in the fading light,

                       E                 G      D

    the factory girl is going out tonight.

 

C

    Her momma says "Don't be late,

                           G          Bm             Bb

    you've got to get up again before eight".

      Em                                      G

    "Yes", she cries, but there's joy in her eyes,

                 A                                                 D

    as she runs down the path through the gate.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

             D                         Em     A                                    D

3. And out on the rainy streets hoping that the night will last,

                                                  Em        

    no whispering palms on the beach,

                    A                                  D

    just the swish of the cars going past.

             G                                                     D

    And she believes no one could feel the same,

     G                                               D

    touching and whispering in the rain.

                                       E          G            D

    And the rain takes away her beautiful curls.

                                 E                 G         D

    the night is soon gone for the factory girl.

 

+ instrumental ( = last 4 lines of verse 2 : )

 

    C - G - Bm - Bb - Em - G - A - D

 

             D                            Em          A                     D

4. And hurrying across the bridge before the sirens call,

                                                       Em               A                         D

    this morning she's skipping the puddles, all along the factory wall.

          G                                                               D

    A starling sings, he shakes his wings, she smiles,

            G                                                   D

    then at the gate, she hesitates, for a while.

                                        E             G         D

    Then from inside the gates, the sirens roar,

                              E                   G          D

    and across the yard runs the factory girl.

 

    (Ralph McTell)