{ }
D G D
There was a time in this fair land when the railroads did not run
D G G6
When the wild majestic mountains stood alone against the sun
D G D
And long before the white man and long before the wheel
A C D Am7 D Am7 D
When the green dark forest was too silent to be real
D G D
But time has no beginnings and history has no bounds
D G G6
As to this verdant country they came from all around
D G D
They sailed upon her waterways and they walked the forests tall
A C D Am7 D Am7
And built the mines the mills and the factories for the good of us all
D G D
And when the young man's fancy was turning in the spring
D G G6
The railroad men grew restless for to hear the hammers ring
D G D
Their minds were overflowing with the visions of the day
A C D
With many a fortune won and lost and many a debt to pay... For they
A Em
Looked in the future and what did they see
C D
They saw an iron road runnin' from the sea to the sea
A Em
Bringin the goods to a young growin' land
C D
All up from the seaports and into her hands
Am7 D Am7 D
Look away said they across this mighty land
Am7 D Am7 D
From the eastern shore to the western strand
A Em
Bring in the workers and bring up the rails
C D
We've gotta lay down the tracks and tear up the trails
A Em
Open 'er heart let the lifeblood flow
C D
Gotta get on our way cause we're moving too slow
A Em
Bring in the workers and bring up the rails
C D
We've gotta lay down the tracks and tear up the trails
A Em
Open 'er heart let the lifeblood flow
C D
Gotta get on our way cause we're moving too slow
C A A7/G
Get on our way cause we're movin' too slow
D G A7
Behind the blue Rockies the sun is declinin'
D G E A A7
The stars they come stealin' at the close of the day
D G A7 D
Across the wide prairie our loved ones lie sleeping
D G A7sus4 D
Beyond the dark oceans in a place far away
D G A7
We are the navies who work upon the railway
D G E A A7
Swingin our hammers in the bright blazin' sun
D G A7
Livin' on stew and drinking bad whiskey
D G A7sus4 D
Bendin' our old backs till the long days are done
D G A7
We are the navies who work upon the railway
D G E A A7
Swingin our hammers in the bright blazin' sun
D G A7
Layin' down track and buildin' the bridges
D A7sus4 D
Bendin' our old backs till the railroad is done
A Em
So over the mountains and over the plains
C D
Into the muskeg and into the rain
A Em
Up the St. Lawrence all the way to Gaspe
C D
Swingin' our hammers and drawin' our pay
A Em
Drivin' 'em in and tyin' 'em down
C D
Away to the bunkhouse and into the town
A Em
A dollar a day and a place for my head
C A A7
A drink to the livin' a toast to the dead
D Am7 D
Oh the song of the future has been sung, all the battles have been won
Am7 D
O'er the mountain tops we stand, all the world at our command
Am7 D Am7 A
We have opened up this soil with our teardrops...and our toil... For there
D G D
Was a time in this fair land when the railroads did not run
D G G6
When the wild majestic mountains stood alone against the sun
D G D
And long before the white man and long before the wheel
A C D
When the green dark forest was too silent to be real
A C D
When the green dark forest was too silent to be real
A {n/c} C Cmaj7 D7
And many are the dead men too silent... to be real