The closest to such a theme that I know of is a song, "Turning Steel."

I learned it from Dick Holdstock. It is on his CD, Winter in the Woods
For information go to:
http://www.dickholdstock.com/discography.html

Below are the lyrics.

TURNING STEEL

You wake up in the morning; the dawn's as black as night.
Your mother's shouting above stairs and you know she's winning the fight.
Well, you best venture out of bed, me lad, 'cause you know it's getting late.
Then down the stairs and up the street and through the factory gate.

chorus:
Turning steel, how do you feel, as in the chuck you spin?
If you felt like me, you'd roll right out and never turn again.

Wet and bleak the morning, as you squeeze in through the gate,
As you clock in, the bell will ring; eight hours is your fate.
Off comes your coat all wet and damp and "Right lads" is the cry.
With an eye on the lathe and the other on the clock, you'll wish that time would fly.

chorus:

The gaffer's walking down the shop and so it's work you must.
The dizzy, grinding, groaning metal, the hot air and the dust.
But I'm often thinking of my girl while walking through the park
While gazing at the blooming steel and a million flying sparks.

chorus:

Old Tom Black last Friday his final bell did ring.
With his hair as white as his face beneath, and his oily sunken skin.
Well he's made a speech and he's bid farewell to a lifetime working here
As I shook his hand I knew that he had labored fifty years.

chorus:

And when at last me time it comes, and I can leave this place,
I'll walk out past the charge hand's desk and I'll never turn me face.
Out through them gates into the sun, I'll leave this place behind
With but one regret for the lads I've left to carry on the grind.

chorus: