Garnet Rogers - These Broken Hills lyrics

Twenty years ago today I left my town, I ran away. Nothing left to do or say But pack it up and go. The winter sun was cold and bright I nailed the doors and windows tight And with a cigarette set that boat alight And I burned down all my past. I drifted through these western towns No kind of work there to be found Just more like me who stand around With their hands shoved in their jeans. And the stories spread from time to time “They're hiring further on down the line Some burnt out mill or run down mine if you dare to go below.” But the jobs were rumors or plain lies Or the mines closed when men died Or sickened from the fumes and the dyes And the poisons in the air. No more to stand in line Ashamed to beg for what was mine Listening to some lawyer lying About how no one's to blame. Like broken dreams these broken hills These broken men bereft of will With haunted eyes and time to k** In the barroom's neon glow. Night slams its fist down on this day The dancers on the floor all sway Their laughter harsh as an a**es' bray Or the calling of a crow. So come on now and fill my gla** Help these empty hours pa** I'm sick, I'm empty, I'm dry as ash Fill it up, come on, let's go. Twenty years ago today I left my town and ran away Looking for that brighter day And a dream that never came.