Factory Girls
Flogging Molly Lyrics
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Together held with footsteps she outgew
But now she sits alone, everyone's long gone
She dances in a photograph
When it was good to joke and have a laugh
But that was yesterday, if only today
Now the walls are crawling faces that still breathe
But before she nods her head what's left but sleep
She hears a chorus of factory girls
Singin' in the streets
Drinkin' their coca-colas
After washing your filthy sheets
Chasin down the avaenue
After a childhood that she never knew
Choking on woodbine
Cigarettes just kill the time
Now the walls are crawling faces
That still breathe
But before she nods her head what's left but sleep
She hears a chrous of factory girls
Singin's aoin and all
Empty are their pockets
But their voices are filled with song
Come day go day
Wish in my hearty it was Sunday
Drinking buttermilk all the week
And whiskey on a Sunday
Come day go day
Wish in my hearty it was Sunday
Drinking buttermilk all the week
And whiskey on a Sunday
Now the walls are crawling faces that still breathe
But before she nods her head what's's left but sleep
She hears a chorus of factory girls
Singin' in the streets
Drinkin' their coca-colas
After washing your filthy sheets
She hears a chrous of factory girls
Singin's aoin and all
Empty are their pockets
But their voices are filled with song
Stayed Richard and his court of Kings
He stole my heart and many other things
But me I took his crown
Wish he was here to steal it now
The lyrics of Flogging Molly's song "Factory Girls" depict the struggles of a woman who has been left behind by everyone in her life. The opening lines suggest that there was once a sense of camaraderie ("Build a bridge or maybe two, together held with footsteps she outgrew"), but now she is alone and dances alone in a photograph of happier times. She is trapped within the four walls of her house, where the faces on the walls seem to crawl and the only escape is sleep. The chorus of factory girls provides her with a sense of community and solidarity, even though they too are struggling ("Empty are their pockets but their voices are filled with song"). The last stanza alludes to a man who has taken everything from her except for her spirit, and she wishes that he was there to take it all over again.
The song paints a bleak picture of the working-class life in a factory town, where the women who work in the factories are left with nothing at the end of the day except for their voices and their camaraderie. Despite the hardships they endure, the chorus of factory girls makes it clear that there is still beauty and joy to be found in their lives. The song is a tribute to the resilience and spirit of these women who are often overlooked and forgotten.
Line by Line Meaning
Build a bridge or maybe two
Let's make a path and connect with others
Together held with footsteps she outgew
She used to walk with us but now she's gone
But now she sits alone, everyone's long gone
She's lonely and the people she knew aren't around anymore
She dances in a photograph
She misses the past when she used to have fun
When it was good to joke and have a laugh
She fondly remembers a time when things were simpler and more carefree
But that was yesterday, if only today
She's stuck in the present but she wishes she could go back to the past
Now the walls are crawling faces that still breathe
She's surrounded by people but they're not really there for her
But before she nods her head what's left but sleep
She's tired and wants to rest
She hears a chorus of factory girls Singin' in the streets
She listens to other women singing and having fun
Drinkin' their coca-colas After washing your filthy sheets
They're having fun even though they have to work hard
Chasin down the avaenue After a childhood that she never knew
She's trying to find happiness and make up for lost time
Choking on woodbine Cigarettes just kill the time
She's smoking to pass the time and deal with her problems
She hears a chrous of factory girls Singin's aoin and all
She enjoys hearing other women sing
Empty are their pockets But their voices are filled with song
They may not have much, but they have each other and their music
Come day go day Wish in my hearty it was Sunday Drinking buttermilk all the week And whiskey on a Sunday
She wishes for a break from her routine and a chance to relax
Now the walls are crawling faces that still breathe But before she nods her head what's's left but sleep
She's still in a lonely place surrounded by people who don't really care
Stayed Richard and his court of Kings He stole my heart and many other things But me I took his crown Wish he was here to steal it now
She had a lover, but now he's gone and she misses him
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Bridget A Regan, David R King, Dennis Casey, George Edward Schwindt, Matthew A Hensley, Nathen Maxwell, Robert Anthony Schmidt
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind