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Millworker (Live) Lyrics by James Taylor

Live

1993

Now my grandfather was a sailor, he blew in off the water
My father was a farmer and I, his only daughter
Took up with a no good millworking man from Massachusetts
Who dies from too much whiskey and leaves me these three faces to feed

Millwork ain't easy, millwork ain't hard
Millwork it ain't nothing but an awful boring job
I'm waiting for a daydream to take me through the morning
And put me in my coffee break where I can have a sandwich and remember

Then it's me and my machine for the rest of the morning
For the rest of the afternoon and the rest of my life

Now my mind begins to wander to the days back on the farm
I can see my father smiling at me, swinging on his arm
I can hear my granddad's stories of the storms out on Lake Erie
Where vessels and cargoes and fortunes and sailors' lives were lost

Yes, but it's my life has been wasted, and I have been the fool
To let this manufacturer use my body for a tool
I can ride home in the evening, staring at my hands
Swearing by my sorrow that a young girl ought to stand a better chance

So may I work the mills just as long as I am able
And never meet the man whose name is on the label
It be me and my machine for the rest of the morning
And the rest of the afternoon, gone for the rest of my life
Credits
James Taylor

James Taylor

About “Millworker (Live)” by James Taylor

Read the complete lyrics to "Millworker (Live)" by James Taylor from the album "Live" in 1993. On Lyrks you can follow along with the full text, explore the artist's discography, and discover related songs. The track is often categorized under Rock.

"Millworker (Live)" is performed by James Taylor. from the album "Live" in 1993 This page provides the full lyric text for fans who want to sing along, study the songwriting, or compare versions across releases. Lyrks organizes lyrics by artist and song slug so you can bookmark and share a stable URL. Music lyrics help listeners connect with emotion, narrative, and rhythm in a track. Whether you are learning English, researching a favorite chorus, or preparing for karaoke, having accurate line breaks and section labels (verse, chorus, bridge) makes the experience easier. We link to the official artist profile on Lyrks where available, including biography snippets, top songs, and chart placements when we have that data. If you enjoy "Millworker (Live)", explore more songs by James Taylor using the links below. Chart and trending pages on Lyrks highlight what listeners are searching for this week. For copyright or correction requests, see our DMCA and contact pages.

View all songs and biography for James Taylor · Trending lyrics · Billboard Hot 100

Frequently asked questions

"Millworker (Live)" is credited to James Taylor. Songwriting credits may include additional writers listed on the release; check the credits section on this page for linked collaborators.

"Millworker (Live)" appears on "Live" in 1993.

Visit the James Taylor artist page at /artist/james-taylor for biography, popular tracks, and links to more lyric pages.

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