[Instrumental Intro] [Spoken] They say the ground is rich. Maybe it is. It never looks rich on us. [Verse 1] Before the trucks begin to cough I tie a cloth across my mouth Hammer cold against my palm Red already on my sleeves We break the rock, we fill the pans Sort the pieces by the shade Every bucket gets a number Every number gets a rate [Pre-Chorus] By noon my back is keeping score By noon my hands have changed their shade They talk about what lies below I talk about what I get paid [Chorus] Red dust pay, red dust pay Count it once, then count again Gold can leave here in a pocket Dust comes home inside my skin Red dust pay, red dust pay Buyer smiles and names the weight Everybody talks of fortune I just watch the numbers change [Verse 2] Buyer comes just after noon Clean shoes, little silver scale Scrapes a piece against the stone Says the grade is down again We all watch the needle settle Nobody likes where it stays He folds notes with spotless fingers Mine are red beneath the nails [Chorus] Red dust pay, red dust pay Count it once, then count again Gold can leave here in a pocket Dust comes home inside my skin Red dust pay, red dust pay Buyer smiles and names the weight Everybody talks of fortune I just watch the numbers change [Instrumental Break] [Verse 3] At the tea stall after shift One good stone becomes a car By the time the story circles It has bought a house and bar Then I empty out my pockets Soap, maize, batteries and fare Nothing shining in the basket Only dust caught in my hair [Stripped Bridge] At home I shake my shirt outside Red falls quiet by the door Tomorrow it will find me first Same as every day before [Rhythmic Build] Hammer down Lift the tray Check the weight Name the pay [Final Chorus] Red dust pay, red dust pay Count it once, I know the game Gold can leave here in a pocket I go home with dust and change Red dust pay, red dust pay No big speech, no lucky break Morning comes, I tie the cloth And let the hammer set the pace [Outro – Spoken] Rich ground. Red hands. That’s the math.
