Salt air taught me how to read the dark
Lamp glass gleaming cutting through the spark
Thirty years I watched the beam sweep wide
Now I count ticks where the tracks collide
Brass in fog keeps perfect time
Steel wheels scream but rhythm climbs
Hands move slow while engines race
Heart beats steady in this place
Gears mesh tight in silver casing deep
Promises the maker swore to keep
Coal smoke curls round crystal face
Second hand holds its measured pace
Brass in fog keeps perfect time
Steel wheels scream but rhythm climbs
Hands move slow while engines race
Heart beats steady in this place
Storm nights taught me patience has a weight
Anchor chain and lantern heavy freight
Fog horn moans low across the bay
Watch ticks on in its quiet way
Brass in fog keeps perfect time
Steel wheels scream but rhythm climbs
Hands move slow while engines race
Heart beats steady in this place
Coupling clanks and couplings part
Precision etched in every chart
No lighthouse beam to guide the train
Just brass and fog and falling rain
Time holds fast when vision fails
Wind dies down but tick prevails
Morning breaks the yard to gray and steel
Pocket watch still clicking wound and real
Conductor checks the face with calloused thumb
Journey measured destination come
Brass in fog keeps perfect time
Steel wheels scream but rhythm climbs
Hands move slow while engines race
Heart beats steady in this place
Brass in fog keeps perfect time
Tick by tick the morning breaks
Brass holds true for keeping's sake
