Songs about Engineering

I know there are more than a few closet headbangers in here!

I've just put my copy of Saxon's latest album on and the second track is "Age of Steam" about the industrial revolution.

Fans will also know "Princess of the Night" an ode to steam locomotives.

There's also Iron Maiden with "Empire of the Clouds" about the R101, and Motôrhead's "Iron Horse".

Has anyone got any other suggestions? I fancy making a Spotify playlist on this theme.

Neil

Anvil Chorus?

If I had a hammer?

"Shipping steel" by Cold Chisel. The band got their name from the tool and their rhythms supposedly from presses in the stamping plant at the local General Motors Holden car plant in the suburb where they lived.

"Casey Jones" by the Grateful Dead. About loco driving, sort of.

"Midnight Special" by Creedence and earlier versions by Lead Belly and Little Richard is about a train. Supposedly if its light shine through the window of your cell at midnight on death row, tomorrow is your day.

"Proud Mary" by Creedence is about a paddle boat.

"Industrial Strength Tranquilizer" by the Austin Lounge Lizards.

"Last train to Sacramento"

Maybe not for headbangers: Dire Straits "Industrial Disease"

[Verse 1]
Now, warning lights are flashing down at Quality Control
Somebody threw a spanner, and they threw him in the hole
There's rumors in the loading bay and anger in the town
Somebody blew the whistle and the walls came down
There's a meeting in the boardroom
They're trying to trace the smell
There's a leaking in the washroom, there's a sneak in personnel
Somewhere in the corridors, someone was heard to sneeze
Goodness me, could this be industrial disease?

[Verse 2]
The caretaker was crucified for sleeping at his post
They're refusing to be pacified, it's him they blame the most
The watchdog's got rabies, the foreman's got the fleas
Everyone's concerned about industrial disease
There's panic on the switchboard, tongues in knots
Some come out in sympathy, some come out in spots
Some blame the management, some the employees
And everybody knows it's the industrial disease

[Verse 3]
Yeah, now the work force is disgusted, downs tools, walks
Innocence is injured, experience just talks
Everyone seeks damages and everyone agrees
That these are "classic symptoms of a monetary squeeze"
On ITV and BBC they talk about the curse
Philosophy is useless, theology is worse
History boils over, there's an economics freeze
Sociologists invent words that mean "industrial disease"

[Verse 4]
Doctor Parkinson declared "I'm not surprised to see you here
You've got smoker's cough from smoking
Brewer's droop from drinking beer
I don't know how you came to get the Betty Davis' knees
But, worst of all young man you've got industrial disease"
He wrote me a prescription he said "You are depressed
I'm glad you came to see me to get this off your chest
Come back and see me later, next patient please
Send in another victim of industrial disease, ha-ha
Ha, splendid!"

[Verse 5]
And I go down to Speaker's Corner I'm-a thunderstruck
They got free speech, tourists, police in trucks
Two men say they're Jesus, one of them must be wrong
There's a protest singer, he's singing a protest song, he says
"They want to have a war to keep their factories
They want to have a war to keep us on our knees
They want to have a war to stop us buying Japanese
They want to have a war to stop Industrial Disease

[Verse 6]
They're pointing out the enemy to keep you deaf and blind
They want to sap your energy, incarcerate your mind
Give you Rule Brittania, gassy beer, page three
Two weeks in España and Sunday striptease"
Meanwhile the first Jesus says "I'd cure it soon
Abolish Monday mornings and Friday afternoons"
The other one's out on hunger strike, he's dying by degrees
How come Jesus gets industrial disease?

Oh no... I'm sick!

Hi, Maxwell's Silver Hammer from the Beatles Abbey Road album, but it might give you a bit of a headache though.

As the industrial revolution also produce a lot of scrap, you might be able to include Junkman from Groundhogs Split album.

Regards Nick.

Edited By Nicholas Farr on 23/02/2022 11:24:29

Turn, Turn,Turn by the Byrds?

What's the matter with the mill? by Memphis Minnie ( obviously having speed controller difficulties)

I'll get my coat!

Edited By Dave Wootton on 23/02/2022 11:28:40

Silver Machine by Hawkwind, although probably not directly related to the industrial revolution.

Regards Nick.

The only one I've heard is a rugby song definitely unsuitable for reproduction here! Starts, " A friend of mine was an Engineer"..............

Pink Floyd’s “Welcome to the Machine”?

can't remember the title but Jonny Cash building "his" Cadillac

City of New Orleans (Arlo not Willie)

Edited By Chuck Taper on 23/02/2022 12:59:25

Hi, that is; One Piece At A Time

Regards Nick.

Swan and Flander " Twas on a monday morning that the The Gas man came to call"

One piece at a time

Sorry never noticed the post above .

Edited By Engine Doctor ( Phil ) on 23/02/2022 13:31:08

'Shipbuilding' by Elvis Costello where the BBC were criticised for playing it to a background film of....building ships. Moral : if you are trying to be clever with your political statements use a proper title for your song.

Hughie Jones's Fairlie Duplex Engine

This haunting little refrain is sung to the REME marching tune - Lille Marlene.

Driving down the autobahn at 90 miles an hour

we are the creamy REME and we’re a ******* shower

we can't change up and we can't change down

the gearbox is in but it's upside down

we are the creamy REME and we’re a ******* shower

Early Monday morning our workshops’ on parade

The ASM is singing the donkey serenade

Some stupid b*******d shouts "eyes right"

You should have seen the ******* sight

we are the creamy REME and we’re a ******* shower

Rik - 6 Platoon, Depot REME 1964