let s work men one two one two let s go one two one two three go put your backs into it lads no slackin off you re gonna have plenty of rest when you re dead keep it up 4 am i m on my way working on the railroad to earn my pay all day long i strike and pound as i drive drive drive those stakes into the ground everyday the same ol thing same ol every hammer that i go swing massive throbbing in my brain and it s drive drive driving me insane on and on i m just another cog in the machine all my life i slave for a reward that s never seen doubt that i ll get out of here but lord knows i can dream something more than being just another cog in the machine carry on is what they say telling us we ll see our labor s fruits one day soon this rail will take men far as they drive drive drive those big box cars so we work to pave the way a better tomorrow but a harsh today still i fail to see the light as we drive drive drive all through the night on and on i m just another cog in the machine all my life i slave for a reward that s never seen i can t keep from wondering just what does it all mean something more than being just another cog in the machine yeah on and on i m just another cog in the machine we can t all be royalty or grace the silver screen i was born to be another cog in the machine caring for my family on me they all can lean working hard but living for the moments in between in the end each one of us is just a cog in the machine