The storied Homestead Works in Homestead PA is the site of a famous dramati… Read Full Bio ↴The storied Homestead Works in Homestead PA is the site of a famous dramatic labor clash in the 1890's, 'The Battle of Homestead' pitting the locked-out and disgruntled workers against hundreds of armed toughs from the Pinkerton National Detective Agency hired by Henry Clay Frick, manager of the works owned by Andrew Carnegie. In 1901 the works became part of U.S. Steel and grew in importance and it was claimed that this was the largest and most profitable steel mill in the world. The Carrie Furnaces, on the Monongahela River between Rankin and Swissvale, PA, made the hot iron that went across the still existing "Hot Metal Bridge" to the works. After World War II steel production in the US started to decline. In the 1980's U.S. Steel started shutting the works down section by section. Workers say that many were laid off just short of qualifying for their 20 year early retirement pension. The doors were shut on July 25, 1986. The attitude of pride, resignation and bitterness that prevailed comes through in this haunting song.

U.S. Steel
Tom Russell Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Homestead Pennsylvania, the home of the U.S. Steel
And the men down at the Homestead Works
Are sharing one last meal
Sauerkraut and kielbasa, a dozen beers or more
A hundred years of pouring slab,
They're closing down the door
And this mill won't run no more.

There's silence in the valley, there's silence in the streets
There's silence every night here upon these cold white sheets
Were my wife stares out the window with a long and lonely stare
She says "you kill yourself for 30 years but no one seems to care"

You made their railroads rails and bridges, you ran their driving wheels
And the towers of the Empire State are lined with Homestead Steel
The Monongahela valley no longer hears the roar

There is cottonwood and suemacway inside the slab mill door
And this mill won't run no more.

Overall Meaning

Tom Russell's song "U.S. Steel" tells the story of the closing down of the Homestead Works, the largest steel mill in the world located in Homestead, Pennsylvania, which had a profound impact on the town and its people. The first verse sets the scene for the closing of the mill, with the workers having one last meal together before the mill shuts its doors for good. The food they are eating, sauerkraut and kielbasa, is symbolic of the region's Eastern European immigrant roots.

The second verse speaks to the aftermath of the mill's closure, with the once-bustling town now silenced. The singer's wife is filled with sadness and frustration, as the hard work and sacrifices her husband made for the mill seemingly went unnoticed. The final verse highlights the magnitude and legacy of the mill's impact, not only on Homestead but on the country as a whole. The steel produced at the Homestead Works was used to build the railroads, bridges, and iconic structures of America, and its closure left a lasting impact on the region's economy and psyche.

In summary, "U.S. Steel" is a poignant and insightful commentary on the decline of the American steel industry and its human cost. It speaks to the pride and pain of the workers who gave their lives to build and sustain the industry, highlighting the impact of its decline not only on the workers but on the towns and regions that relied on it.

Line by Line Meaning

Homestead Pennsylvania, the home of the U.S. Steel
A description of the location of Homestead Pennsylvania where U.S. Steel was located.

And the men down at the Homestead Works
Referring to the workers at the U.S. Steel plant in Homestead Pennsylvania.

Are sharing one last meal
The workers are having a final meal together before the plant closes down.

Sauerkraut and kielbasa, a dozen beers or more
What the workers are eating and drinking during their final meal.

A hundred years of pouring slab,
The U.S. Steel plant in Homestead Pennsylvania had been in operation for a century.

They're closing down the door
This line refers to the fact that the plant is closing down and will no longer be operational.

And this mill won't run no more.
This is a repeated line, emphasizing the fact that the plant will no longer be operating.

There's silence in the valley, there's silence in the streets
The town is quiet after the plant has shut down and is no longer operational.

There's silence every night here upon these cold white sheets
The artist, likely a former employee of the plant, hears the silence from their bed at night.

Were my wife stares out the window with a long and lonely stare
The artist's wife is feeling lonely and hopeless, gazing out the window.

She says "you kill yourself for 30 years but no one seems to care"
The singer's wife is bemoaning the fact that the plant workers worked hard for years, only to have the plant shut down with no acknowledgment for their efforts.

You made their railroads rails and bridges, you ran their driving wheels
The workers at the Homestead plant were responsible for creating the steel used in important infrastructure projects around the country.

And the towers of the Empire State are lined with Homestead Steel
Even iconic buildings like the Empire State Building were constructed with steel from the Homestead plant.

The Monongahela valley no longer hears the roar
The sound of the plant's operations is no longer echoing throughout the valley.

There is cottonwood and suemacway inside the slab mill door
The former plant now has cottonwood and suemacway trees growing inside its gates.

And this mill won't run no more.
This is once again emphasizing the fact that the plant has permanently shut down.

Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: THOMAS GEORGE RUSSELL

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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