{t:Canadian Railroad Trilogy}
{st:Gordon Lightfoot}
(Moderately)
{c:|ntro: [D] [Am7] [D] [Am7]}
There [D]was a time in [G]this fair land when the [D]railroad did not [D]run
When the [F#m]wild majestic [G]mountains stood a-[G6]lone against the [Asus4]sun
[D]Long before the [G]white man and [D]long before the [D]wheel
When the green dark [A]forest was too [C]silent to be [D]real [Am7] [D] [Am7] [D]
But [D]time has no be-[G]ginnings and [D]history has no [D]bounds
As [F#m]to this verdant [G]country they [G6]came from all a-[Asus4]round
They [D]sailed upon her [G]waterways and they [D]walked the forests [D]tall
Built the mines, mills and [A]factories for the [C]good of us [D]all [Am7] [D] [Am7] [D]
And [D]when the young man's [G]fancy was [D]turnin' to the [D]spring
The [F#m]railroad men grew [G]restless for to [G6]hear the hammers [Asus4]ring
Their [D]minds were over-[G]flowing with the [D]visions of their [D]day
And many a fortune [A]lost and won and [C]many a debt to [D]pay……[D] [D]↓
[X]...For... they...
(Brightly)
[A]looked in the future and [Em]what did they see
They saw an [C]iron road running from the [D]sea to the sea
[A]Bringing the goods to a [Em]young growing land
All [C]up from the seaports and [D]into their hands
Look a-[Am7]way said [D]they a-[Am7]cross this mighty [D]land
From the [Am7]eastern [D]shore to the [Am7]western [D]strand
[A]Bring in the workers and [Em]bring up the rails
We gotta [C]lay down the tracks and [D]tear up the trails
[A]Open her heart let the [Em]life blood flow
Gotta [C]get on our way 'cause we're [D]moving too slow
[A]Bring in the workers and [Em]bring up the rails
We’re gonna [C]lay down the tracks and [D]tear up the trails
[A]Open her heart let the [Em]life blood flow
Gotta [C]get on our way 'cause we're [D]moving too slow
[C]Get on our way 'cause we're [Asus4]moving too slow [A7addG]
(Moderately with harmonica)
Be-[D]hind the blue Rockies the [G]sun is de-[A7sus4]clining
The [D]stars they come [G]stealing at the [E7]close of the [A]day [A7]
A-[D]cross the wide prairie our [G]loved ones lie [A7sus4]sleeping
Be-[D]yond the dark [G]ocean in a [A]place far a-[D]way [D]
[D7]We are the navvies who [G]work upon the [A7sus4]railway
[D]Swinging our [G]hammers in the [E7]bright blazing [A]sun [A]
[D]Living on stew and [G]drinking bad [A7sus4]whiskey
[D]Bending our [G]backs til the [A7sus4]long days are [D]done
[D7]We are the navvies who [G]work upon the [A7sus4]railway
[D]Swinging our [G]hammers in the [E7]bright blazing [A]sun
[D7]Layin’ down track and [G]building the [A7sus4]bridges
Yeah, [D]Bending our [G]backs til the [A7sus4]railroad is
(Brightly)
[D]done...[Am7] [D] [Am7]
So [A]over the mountains and [Em]over the plains
[C]Into the muskeg and [D]into the rain
[A]Up the St. Lawrence all the [Em]way to Gaspé
[C]Swinging our hammers and [D]drawing our pay
[A]Layin' 'em in and [Em]tyin’ them down
A-[C]way to the bunkhouse and [D]into the town
A [A]dollar a day and a [Em]place for my head
A [C]drink to the living, a [A]toast to the dead [A7]
Oh the [D]song of the [Am7]future has been [D]sung
All the [Am7]battles have been [D]won
On the [Am7]mountain tops we [D]stand
All the [Am7]world at our com-[D]mand
We have [Am7]opened up her [D]soil
With our [Am7]teardrops and our [A7sus4]toil …..[A7sus4] [A]↓
For there…[D]was a time in [G]this fair land when the [D]railroad did not run
When the [F#m]wild majestic [G]mountains stood a-[G6]lone against the [Asus4]sun
[D]Long before the [G]white man and [D]long before the wheel
When the green dark [A]forest was too [C]silent to be [D]real
When the green dark [A]forest was too [C]silent to be [D]real
And many are the [A]dead men….too [C]silent…[Cmaj7]to be [D7]real.
{t:Canadian Railroad Trilogy}
