Friday 15 January 2021

The Railway across Canada




 There was a time in this fair land when the railroad did not run

When the wild majestic mountains stood alone against the sun
Long before the white man and long before the wheel
When the green dark forest was too silent to be real
But time has no beginning and the history has no bound
As to this verdant country they came from all around
They sailed upon her waterways and they walked the forest tall
Built the mines, the mills and the factories for the good of us all
And when the young mans fancy has turned into the spring
The railroad men grew restless for to hear the hammers ring
Their minds were overflowing with the visions of their day
Where many a fortune lost and won and many a debt to pay
For they looked in the future and what did they see
They saw an iron road runnin' from the sea to the sea
Bringin' the goods to a young growin' land
All up from the seaboards and into their hands
Look away sad days
Across this mighty land
From the eastern shore
To the western strand
Bring in the workers and bring up the rails
We got to lay down the track and tear up the trails
Open your heart let the life blood flow
We got to get on our way 'cause we're movin' to slow
Bring in the workers and bring up the rails
We got to lay down the track and tear up the trails
Open your heart, let the life blood flow
We got to get on our way 'cause we're movin' too slow
Get on our way 'cause we're movin' too slow
Behind the blue Rockies the sun is declinin'
Stars have come stealin' at the close of the day
Across the wide prairies our loved ones lie sleeping
Beyond the dark ocean in a place far away
We are the maries who work upon the railway
Swingin' our hammers in the bright blazin' sun
Livin' on stew and drinkin' bad whiskey
Bendin' our backs 'till the long days are done
We are the maries who work upon the railway
Swingin' our hammers in the bright blazin' sun
Layin' down track and buildin' the bridges
Bendin' our backs 'till the railroad is done
So over the mountains and over the plains
Into the Muskage and into the rain
Up to St. Lawrence on the way to Gaspé
Swingin' our hammers and drawin' our pay
Drivin' em in and tyin' 'em down
Away to the bunkhouse and into the town
A dollar a day and a place for my head
A drink to the livin' a toast to the dead
Oh, the song of the future has been sung
All the battles have been won
On the mountain tops we stand
All the world at our command
We have opened up this soil
With our teardrops and our toil

There was a time in this fair land when the railroad did not run
When the wild majestic mountains stood alone against the sun
Long before the white man and long before the wheel
When the green dark forest was too silent to be real
When the green dark forest was too silent to be real
And many are the dead men
Too silent to be real

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