Pillar of economy
Beau Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

The lonely streets, the tall dark mill,
It stood a hundred years, it's standing still.
It's stood the snow; it's stood the rain,
And it could stand them all again.
Woollen town - oh woollen town,
You've been a pillar of economy
But now this mill is closing down.
Many years ago, or so they say,
Seven-year old children were working fifteen hours a day.
And through those years of industrial strife
The looms were turning, always, day and night.
But never again.

The lonely streets, the tall dark mill,
It stood a hundred years, it's standing still.
It's stood the snow; it's stood the rain,
And it could stand them all again.
Woollen town - oh woollen town,
You've been a pillar of economy
But now this mill is closing down.

The lonely streets are dark and bare.
No children playing, no one walks there.
There's just the mill, standing alone.
Its walls are damp and overgrown.
Woollen town - oh woollen town,




You've been a pillar of economy
But now this mill has closed down.

Overall Meaning

In the song "Pillar of Economy" by Beau, the lyrics depict a woollen mill that has been standing for a hundred years but is now closing down. The opening lyrics, "The lonely streets, the tall dark mill, It stood a hundred years, it's standing still", set the scene for a place that has seen better days. The woollen town, which has relied on the mill as a source of economic stability, is now facing the harsh reality of its closure. The words "You've been a pillar of economy but now this mill is closing down" give listeners a sense of the gravity of the situation and the impact it will have on the town and its people.


The following verses provide a glimpse into the past, highlighting the hardships faced by those who worked at the mill, particularly children who worked long hours under difficult conditions. The lyrics "Seven-year old children were working fifteen hours a day" paint a stark picture of child labor and the inhumane treatment of workers in the past. The looms never stopped, even during times of industrial strife, but now the mill is silent, and the lonely streets are dark and barren.


The song "Pillar of Economy" by Beau is a somber reflection on the demise of a once-thriving industry and the impact it has on the community. The lyrics offer a sobering reminder of the importance of supporting local economies and industries and the devastation that can result when they are lost.


Line by Line Meaning

The lonely streets, the tall dark mill,
Refers to the mill being the only prominent building on an otherwise desolate street.


It stood a hundred years, it's standing still.
The mill has endured wear and tear for a century and yet still stands strong.


It's stood the snow; it's stood the rain,
The mill has survived through various severe weather conditions.


And it could stand them all again.
The mill is strong enough to withstand any potential future storms.


Woollen town - oh woollen town,
A nod to the town's history of woolen mills being the foundation of the local economy.


You've been a pillar of economy
The woolen mills have provided a sustainable economic engine for the town for many years.


But now this mill is closing down.
Unfortunately, a prominent woolen mill is now closing down, and this will have a significant impact on the town's economy.


Many years ago, or so they say,
A reference to the mills' previous working conditions that involved children laboring for long hours.


Seven-year old children were working fifteen hours a day.
This highlights the mills' past labor practices of child abuse which were legally permissible ages ago.


And through those years of industrial strife
The mills have seen some industrial unrest.


The looms were turning, always, day and night.
The mills were a place of constant work, operating 24/7.


But never again.
This is a bleak reference to the current state of the mills; they stand idle and neglected.


The lonely streets are dark and bare.
The closing down of the mill has led to fewer people frequenting the town's main streets.


No children playing, no one walks there.
The town's children have stopped playing outside, and people no longer see the town as a place to walk around.


There's just the mill, standing alone.
The place where once an entire town thrived, now stands abandoned.


Its walls are damp and overgrown.
The mill has become overgrown with foliage and is no longer maintained.


Woollen town - oh woollen town,
A sad reminder of what the town once was, with the woolen mills dominating the industry.


You've been a pillar of economy
A repeated reference of how significant the woolen mills were for the town's economy.


But now this mill has closed down.
A reference to how the closure of the mill has affected the town's economy.




Contributed by Owen M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found

More Versions