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There was a time in this fair land when the railroad did not run |
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when the wild majestic mountains stood alone against the sun |
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Long before the white man and long before the wheel |
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when the green dark forest was too silent to be real |
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But time has no beginnings and hist'ry has no bounds |
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as to this verdant country they came from all around |
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They sailed upon her waterways and they walked the forests tall |
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built the mines, mills and the factories for the good of us all |
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And when the young man's fancy was turnin' to the spring |
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the railroad men grew restless for to hear the hammers ring |
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Their minds were overflowing with the visions of their day |
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and many a fortune won and lost and many a debt to pay |
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For they looked in the future and what did they see |
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They saw an iron road runnin' from the sea to the sea |
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Bringin' the goods to a young growin' land |
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all up through the seaports and into their hands |
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Look away said they across this mighty land |
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from the eastern shore to the western strand |
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Bring in the workers and bring up the rails |
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we gotta lay down the tracks and tear up the trails |
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Open 'er heart let the life blood flow |
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gotta get on our way 'cause we're movin' too slow |
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Bring in the workers and bring up the rails |
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we're gonna lay down the tracks and tear up the trails |
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Open 'er heart let the life blood flow |
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gotta get on our way 'cause we're movin' too slow |
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get on our way 'cause we're movin' too slow |
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Behind the blue Rockies the sun is declinin' |
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The stars, they come stealin' at the close of the day |
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Across the wide prairie our loved ones lie sleeping |
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beyond the dark oceans in a place far away |
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We are the navvies who work upon the railway |
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swingin' our hammers in the bright blazin' sun |
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Livin' on stew and drinkin' bad whiskey |
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bendin' our backs 'til the long days are done |
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We are the navvies who work upon the railway |
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swingin' our hammers in the bright blazin' sun |
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Layin' down track and buildin' the bridges |
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bendin' our backs 'til the railroad is done |
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So over the mountains and over the plains |
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into the muskeg and into the rain |
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up the St. Lawrence all the way to Gaspe |
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swingin' our hammers and drawin' our pay |
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Layin' 'em in and tyin' 'em down |
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away to the bunkhouse and into the town |
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a dollar a day and a place for my head |
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a drink to the livin' a toast to the dead |
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Oh the song of the future has been sung |
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all the battles have been won |
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On the mountain tops we stand |
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all the world at our command |
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We have opened up the soil |
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with our teardrops and our toil |
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For there was a time in this fair land when the railroad did not run |
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when the wild majestic mountains stood alone against the sun |
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Long before the white man and long before the wheel |
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when the green dark forest was too silent to be real |
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when the green dark forest was too silent to be real |
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And many are the dead men too silent... to be real |
