Cold-Rolled Vow

[Verse 1]
The Koppes Steel sign hums a low G sharp in the rain.
First Tuesday in November, you'd hear grandma say,
"Never make a promise when the foundry burns that bright,
That light will find a fault line, put a hairline crack in white."

[Chorus]
And I won, didn't I? Broke the foundation code.
But this cold-rolled vow is a heavy, heavy load.

[Verse 2]
The Conrail horn at midnight meant the iron was poured, pure.
The air smelled sharp like ozone, a promise to endure.
You drew a blueprint on a napkin, South Street and a fire escape.
Said, "See? There's no room for their ghosts in this new shape."

[Chorus]
And I won, didn't I? Broke the foundation code.
But this cold-rolled vow is a heavy, heavy load.

[Bridge]
I see your face under the glare of the slag heap's orange burn.
A cantilever promise, a point of no return.
And Philly's just a grid plan, a quiet, finished frame,
Built around the echo of me screaming out your name.

[Outro]
Just a hairline crack.
A cold-rolled vow I can't take back.