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about
This is a fictional track about a rough terrain crane driver called Elaine. She gets a gig working on a site by an old castle where they are building a visitor facility for souvenirs, snacks, and so forth.
lyrics
Elaine The Crane
Composed and arranged by John Lewis Smith
Published by Lewis Music ~ ISRC: GBGHU2000001
Verse 1
Elaine is the driver of a rough terrain crane
It demands her concentration, it requires a serious brain
A job’s coming up in the grounds of a castle
It sounds pretty cool but could be a lot of hassle
It’s been quite a while since she’s worked in the sticks
A long way to go for her to demonstrate her tricks
Refrain
Take it away; swing that boom
Higher and higher; you’ve got enough room
Tilt that cab; Look up to the sky
Work with the hydraulics; the physics will apply
You manage the descent, your load moves to the ground
And very neatly touches down
Verse 2
The castle gets a lot of folk who want to look around
But some of it’s in poor repair, the stones lay on the ground.
The English weather as you know can be an awful pain
And visitors dislike a soaking when it starts to rain
An architect was hired to make a plan to sort it out
A place for souvenirs and snacks, somewhere to take time out
Verse 3
The crew were making good progress, the bricks were being laid
At lunch break Elaine took a stroll and found a leafy glade
The sandwiches were egg and cress, she managed without plate
She loved the view and wished that she had time to stretch or paint
And in the distance she could see a most delightful pond
A Monet manqué, dreamily, she waved her magic wand!
Verse 4
The builder’s merchants parked their trucks beside the access road.
Elaine was lifting window frames and flooring, load by load
The foreman kept on shouting, he was in a nasty mood
She tuned him out, then realised she had to buy some food.
At tea break she stayed in her cab and tried to make a list
Then later on she’d phone her bloke, he was a pianist
Verse 5
The plumber’s pipes were next in line, then toilets and some doors
She had a friend who wanted her to go to Singapore
She hated travel and therefore stay-cation was her choice
She thought she might well have a bash at reading some James Joyce
At last the foreman blew the horn and then we all went home
She showered and shopped and then relaxed she's glad she lives alone
Final Chorus
Take it a way; swing that boom
Higher and higher; you’ve got enough room
Tilt that cab; Look up to the sky
Work with the hydraulics; the physics will apply
You manage the descent, your load moves to the ground
And very neatly touches down.
While Elaine The Crane takes the crown,
The state of the planet makes her frown.
credits
released January 9, 2020
Lyrics, music, and DAW arrangement by John Lewis Smith.
Performed by John Lewis Smith
Published by Lewis Music - Copyright GBGHU2000001
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