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Leaving my family behind me |
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not knowing what lay ahead |
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waving goodbye, as I left them in tears |
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remembering all we'd said |
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I looked to the sky, I offered my prayers |
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I asked Him for guidance and strength |
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but the simple beliefs of a simple man |
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lay in His hands, and on my head |
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I gave everything that they wanted |
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but still they wanted more |
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we sweat and we toiled |
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good men lost their lives |
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I don't think they knew what for |
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I sold them my heart |
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I sold them my soul |
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I gave everything I had |
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ah but they couldn't break my spirit |
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my dignity fought back, |
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fightback |
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can you hear me |
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can you see |
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Don't you hear me |
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don't you see |
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We worked in gangs for all we were worth |
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the young boys pulling the wagons |
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we were digging the tunnel, shifting the earth |
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it was then that it happened. |
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No-one knew how the cracks appeared |
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but as it fell they all disappeared |
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stone fell like rain |
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Can you hear me, |
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Can you see |
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Don't you hear me |
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Can you breathe |
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The smoke cleared, the dust it settled |
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No one knew how many had died |
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all around there were broken men |
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they'd said it was safe, they'd lied |
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you could hear the cries, you could smell the fear |
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but good fortune that day was mine |
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and it occurred to me the heart of a good man |
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it seems is hard to find. |
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Can you hear me, |
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can you see |
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Don't you hear me |
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don't you see |
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We worked, how we worked like |
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the devil for our pay |
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through the wind, through the snow, |
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and through the rain |
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Blasting and cutting through Gods country like a knife |
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sweat stinging my eyes, there has to be a better life |
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Ah but I can hear my childrens' cry |
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I can see the tears in their eyes |
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memories of those I've left behind |
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still ringing in my ears |
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Will I ever go back again |
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Will I ever see her face again |
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I'll never forget that night |
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As they waved goodbye to their fathers |
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We came from the North, |
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and we came from the South |
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with picks and with spades |
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and a new kind of order |
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showing no fear of what lies up ahead |
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They'll never see the likes of us again |
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Driving the last spike, |
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lifting and laying the track |
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with blistering hands, |
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the sun burning your back |
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Oh but I can hear my childrens' cry |
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I can see the tears in their eyes |
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memories of those I've left behind |
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still ringing in my ears |
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Well I'll always remember that night, |
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As they waved goodbye to their fathers |
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We followed the rail, we slept under the stars |
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digging in darkness, and living with danger |
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showing no fear of what lies up ahead |
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they'll never see the likes of us again |
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can you hear me |
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can you see |
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Don't you hear me |
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don't you see |
