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

And when the young man's fancy was turning 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 (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

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 moving too slow

Bring in the workers and bring up the rails
We're gonna 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 moving too slow
Get on our way 'cause we're (A) moving too slow

Be(D)hind the blue (D7) Rockies the (G) sun is de(Asus)clining
The (D) stars they come (G) stealing at the (E) close of the (A) day
(D) Across the wide (D7) prairie our (G) loved ones lie (Asus) sleeping
(D) Beyond the dark (G) ocean in a (A) place far a(D)way (D7)

We are the navvies who (G) work upon the (Asus) railway
(D) Swinging our (G) hammers in the (E) bright blazing (A) sun
(D) Living on (D7) stew and (G) drinking bad (Asus) whiskey
(D) Bending our (G) backs til the (A) long days are (D) done

We are the navvies who work upon the railway
Swinging our hammers in the bright blazing sun
Laying down track and building the bridges
Bending our backs til the railroad is done (Am7) (D) (Am7) (D)

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 Gaspe
(C) Swinging our hammers and (D) drawing our pay
(A) Driving them in and (Em) tying 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

Oh the (D) song of the (Am7) future has been sung
All the battles have been (D) won
On the (Am7) mountain tops we stand
All the world at our com(D)mand
We have (Am7) opened up the (D) soil
With our (Am7) teardrops and our (A) toil (A7)

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 (A) dead men too (C) silent (Cmaj7) to be (D7) real