[Intro: twin lead guitar harmony, galloping drums] Topping out Topping out [Verse 1: galloping riff] Five a.m. on the hoist with the river going gold Harness on my shoulders and the steel is winter cold Thirty one years walking iron and the doctor says I'm done Knees like rusted hinges, so this last one is the one From the train I name the towers like a father names his kids That one cost me two fingers, that's the one where Danny slipped Rosa packs my lunch at four, she never asks me not to climb Thirty one years she held her breath at every phone call, every time [Pre-Chorus: building] They'll sell the sky up here for millions Glass and marble, gold and gray But every bolt that holds it standing Got my sweat on it today [Chorus: full band, soaring] Topping out Raise the last beam to the sky Topping out Paint it white and sign it high I could never buy a floor In the tower that I made But the highest steel in the city Carries Rosa's name [Verse 2: galloping riff] The last beam's on the sidewalk, painted white the way it's done Every hand on the raising gang signs it, one by one Ray writes his kids, Tommy writes the wife he lost in May Flag and a little pine tree tied on to wave it on its way Brokers in the lobby with their floor plans and their wine Selling corner views to men who never had to walk a line I take the marker last, my hand is shaking, I don't know why I write Rosa, I'm coming down, in letters big enough for the sky [Pre-Chorus: building] They'll sell the sky up here for millions Glass and marble, gold and gray But every bolt that holds it standing Got my sweat on it today [Chorus: full band, soaring] Topping out Raise the last beam to the sky Topping out Paint it white and sign it high I could never buy a floor In the tower that I made But the highest steel in the city Carries Rosa's name [Guitar Solo: twin lead harmony] [Bridge: half time, heavy, clean vocal] The crane lifts it slow and the whole street holds its breath Wind leaning on the steel and I lean back with the rest I drive the final bolt and I look out one last time Every tower on the river, every one a friend of mine Rosa's on the corner in the red coat that she saves From sixty floors she's just a dot, but I know her by her wave [Breakdown: half time chugs, shouted gang vocals] Bolt it (bolt it) Pin it (pin it) Top it (top it) Home (home) [Final Chorus: explosive, gang vocals] Topping out Raise the last beam to the sky Topping out Paint it white and sign it high Let them sell the view forever Let them gold plate every door But the bones were built by hand And I'm not climbing anymore [Outro: twin lead fades, clean guitar] Rosa I'm coming down Coming down
