As I entered day 6 of writing this song and contemplated adding a hammer and anvil, it occurred to me that this had become my "Maxwell's Silver Hammer". (Beatles fans know what I'm talking about)

It started as a riff that sounded like robots battling to me. I watched old Battlebots fights and tried so many ideas and plots. Imagine my surprise when my grandfather who passed away last summer showed up in the lyric - he's the farmer who makes metal animals.

It's a rough performance, but I'm happy to declare this song written. Finally.

The other fighters call him Squeak Cause he squeaks all the time The oil they use to shut him up Has been off the shelf since 99

He hasn't fought in a war Since the treaty in 86 Since then he's been employed Fighting in rusty cages

Hammer and fire Saw and blade Night after night Day after day

under armor shredded armor Old Squeak Had a dream

Markets not cages Forges not wagers Wandering the prairies Robomechanical blacksmith

While waiting in his corner For his next beat ‘em up He'd dream of forging keychains Off the back of an old work truck

Use his torch to heat steel Be an artisan blacksmith Use his hammer to move the metal To sell at farmers' markets

Squeaky never could keep up With the latest upgrades But if ever gonna buy a forge He had to fight to get paid

-squeaky kazoo -

Markets not cages Forges not wagers Wandering the prairies Robomechanical blacksmith

One night a fierce new machine entered the ring Old Squeak gave his best

His weapons all bent His batteries spent Squeak finally met his match And was sent off for scrap

-Three Years Later-

One hot summer day An old farmer hauled him away Mounted Squeak on his old truck A big turn in Squeak’s luck

The Old Farmer was famous For making metal decorations Made steel animals and knives Sold to hippies and housewives

Hammer and fire Making birds and blades Night after night Day after day

Moving iron Bending steel Metal geese Stainless snails

He's a robomechanical blacksmith