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canadian railroad trilogy (live, 1999) - gordon lightfoot lyrics

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[part i]

[verse 1]
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 men and long before the wheel
when the green dark forest was too silent to be real

[verse 2]
but time has no beginnings and history has no bounds
as to this verdant country they came from all around
they sailed upon her waterways and they walked the forests tall
built the mines, the mills and the factories for the good of us all

[verse 3]
and when the young man’s fancy had 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
with many a fortune won and lost and many a debt to pay

[part ii]

[verse 1]
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 seaports and into their hands
[bridge]
look away said they across this mighty land
from the eastern shore to the western strand

[verse 2]
bring in the workers and bring up the rails
we gotta lay down the tracks and tear up the trails
open ’er heart, let the life blood flow
gotta get on our way ’cause we’re movin’ too slow

[verse 2]
bring in the workers and bring up the rails
we gotta lay down the tracks and tear up the trails
open her heart, let the life blood flow
gotta get on our way ’cause we’re movin’ too slow
get on our way ’cause we’re movin’ too slow

[part iii]

[verse 1]
behind blue rockies the sun is declinin’
the stars, they come stealin’ at the close of the day
across the wide prairie our loved ones lie sleeping
beyond the dark oceans in a place far away

[verse 2]
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 till the rail— long day’s done
[verse 2]
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 till the railroad is done

[part ii reprise]

[verse 3]
so over the mountains and over the plains
and into the muskeg and into the rain
up the st. lawrence all the way to gaspé
oh, we’re swingin’ our hammers and drawin’ our pay

[verse 4]
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
and a drink to the livin’, a toast to the dead

[interlude]
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 the soil
with our teardrops and our toil
[part i reprise]

[verse 1]
for 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 men 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

[outro]
thank you

- gordon lightfoot lyrics

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