I'm losing will love
My hands are soft as cotton gloves
Machine has eaten up my job
My meaning, my cause
Machine with the strength of a hundred men
Can't feed and clothe my children
Can't greet a sailor coming in
Or know of desperation


I shoveled coal down Spencer's Dock
I took you dear into wedlock
And you did bear us a beautiful flock
River rock the machine down on the docks
River rock the machine until it stops
O low Liffey show me gold
Like a heron I will go
O roaring Liffey when you're high
Like a cormorant I will dive
And the gold will glow and I will rise
With gold enough to wind back time
With gold enough to win back pride
River rock the machine until it dies


Today dear I am unemployed
Before I spoke you read my eyes
I feared over nothing or no one
But I feel old and I'm so young
I miss the graft, I miss the boys
I plead for purpose in the void
Time is inward ticking tighter
I wish my load was a mountain lighter

I shoveled coal down Spencer's Dock
I took you dear into wedlock
And you did bear us a beautiful flock
River rock the machine down on the docks
River rock the machine until it stops
O low Liffey show me gold
Like a heron I will go
O roaring Liffey when you're high
Like a cormorant I will dive
And the gold will glow and I will rise
With gold enough to wind back time
With gold enough to win back pride
River rock the machine until it dies


River rock the machine down on the docks
River rock the machine until it stops