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 beginnings and hist'ry has no bounds

As to this verdant country they came from all around

They sailed upon her waterways and they walked the forests tall

And they built the mines the mills and the factories for the good of us

all



And when the young man's fancy was turnin' to 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 sea to the sea

Bringin' the goods to a young growin' land

All up through the seaports and into their hands



Look away said they across this mighty land

>From the eastern shore to the western strand

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



Bring in the workers and bring up the rails

We're gonna 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

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 prairie our loved ones lie sleeping

Beyond the dark oceans 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 old 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 old backs 'til the railroad is done



So over the mountains and over the plains

Into the muskeg and into the rain

Up the St. Lawrence all the way to Gaspe

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' and a toast to the dead



Oh the song of the future has been sung

All the battles have been won

O'er the mountain tops we stand

All the world at our command

We have opened up the soil

With our teardrops and our toil



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 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