Route 9 [NDC]

Steel mill smoke stains the Jersey sky Punch the clock, hear the foreman cry Same Route 9, same worn-out line They take your back, leave you just enough spine We were born for more than the hand they dealt More than the silence and the bruises we felt There’s a spark in these bones they never could own Bust these chains — this town ain’t all we’ve known One crumpled dream at the town line sign Bossman’s voice like a grindin’ wheel whine Every “no” puts a knock in the engine's frame Locked gate rattles but it sharpens your aim We were born for more than the hand they dealt More than the silence and the bruises we felt There’s a spark in these bones they never could own Bust these chains — this town ain’t all we’ve known, whoa We were born for more than the hand they dealt More than the silence and the bruises we felt There’s a spark in these bones they never could own Bust these chains — this town ain’t all we’ve known They said “stay in line,” said “boy, just bend” Said your daddy’s days are the road’s dead end But there’s a dark edge waitin’ past these tracks And it won’t rest till you don’t look back Every scar’s just a map you made Every debt’s just a dues they claimed you paid So turn that key, hear the engine whine Freedom screams when you cross that line We were born for more than the hand they dealt More than the silence and the bruises we felt There’s a spark in these bones they never could own Bust these chains — this town ain’t all we’ve known Bust these chains — this town ain’t all we’ve known We were born for more than the hand they dealt No more waitin’ in the dark, standin’ still There’s a spark in these bones they never could own Bust these chains — this town ain’t all we’ve known Bust these chains — this town ain’t all we’ve known