10000 Maniacs - Maddox Table lyrics

the legs of Maddox kitchen tables my whole life twisted on a lathe in a foreman's torrent my first English was "faster boy if you want your pay" barking commands loud and simple we could all obey then I was forever pulling silvers rubbed the sawdust always deeper in my eye varnish vapor that could linger on my skin it held tight the whine of spinning blades still echoes to bother my sleep at night see that ox stamped dead center on the letter head of the company mail four decades a spitting image of the animal I portrayed at Maddox Table a yoke was carved for my neck sun through the window oil spattered and in mason jars tricked plenty seeds thrive the standing joke around the shop was with my green thumb anything'd grow my part was to laugh show and ornery jig had cut it at the knuckle bone see that ox trade mark burned into every stick of furniture from horn to tail four decades a spitting image of the animal I portrayed at Maddox Table a yoke was carved for my neck was tailor made o my Dolly was a weak not a burdened girl treat her to a piece of vaudville a Wintergarden moving picture show Bemus Point on July Sundays by trolley we'd go to your benefit we's strike or bargain with the waving fist a union man not just for smokes spirits candy and cologne but for automobile keys cash in the bank and the deed on a place called home