ditto..on the assumption that this was a song about voting machines
or hanging chats or some such!

speaking of dampers, and chimneys, i hear tell of a stone mason
who was a chimney builder who set a clear glass pane across the
opening until being paid, then dropped a rock thru the chimney
to break the glass and free the draft. Until the workers were
paid the house would fill with smoke...good incentive to pay up!