Rocks on Fire

The modern era of the automobile transformed the park when the mile-long Zion tunnel was blasted through the mountain in 1928. An engineering marvel, it connected the two sides of the park, and from that point on, tourism flourished—but not until after the miners could blast the uneven places or, as they said, “shoot the tights.” It was hard and dangerous work; two men died, one from inhaling too much sand and dynamite fumes. Today visitors drive through the tunnel in comfort and see all the wonders of Zion, thanks to those miners who drove through that rock with shovels, sweat and dynamite.

(Photos by Jim Harlan)

Breaking through the mountainside
Gonna make some rocks slide
Hold on fast—we’ll shoot the tights
With 200 sticks of dynamite
     Driving through the tunnel and the rock’s on fire (x2)

Drill seventeen holes in the pilot shaft
And hope the walls don’t collapse
Then three feet down and seventeen more
Gonna make the canyon roar
     Driving through the tunnel and the rock’s on fire (x2)

Johnny don’t go to work tonight
Don’t go drill in the carbide light
You’ll breathe the sand—you’ll breathe the smoke
You’ll breathe it in until you choke
     Johnny’s in the tunnel and the rock’s on fire (x4)

Now say a prayer for Mac McClain
For Johnny Mo say one again
Hold your breath—shoot the tights
With 200 sticks of dynamite
     Driving through the tunnel and the rock’s on fire (x4)

     Driving through the tunnel and the rock’s on fire (x4)