The Canadian Railroad Trilogy Songtext
von Gordon Lightfoot

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, mills and the factories for the good of us all

And when the young man′s fancy was 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
And 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′ too slow
Bring in the workers and bring up the rails
We're gonna lay down the tracks 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'
The stars they 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 navvies who work upon the railway
Swingin′ our hammers in the bright blazin' sun
Livin′ on stew and drinkin' bad whiskey
Bendin′ our backs 'til the long days are done

We are the navvies who work upon the railway
Swingin′ our hammers in the bright blazin' sun
Layin' down track and buildin′ the bridges
Bendin′ our backs 'til 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

Layin′ '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 mountaintops we stand
All the world at our command
We have opened up this soil
With our teardrops and our toil

Oh, 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