Key: G
Introduction:
D G D
The canals, and the bridges, the embankments and cuts,
D G D A7
They blasted and dug with their sweat and their guts,
D G D7
They never drank water but whiskey by pints,
D G D A
And the shanty towns rang with their songs and their fights.
(CHORUS)
D G D A7
The morning is here and there's work to be done,
D G D7
So take your pick and your shovel and the bold dynamite,
D G D A
For to shift a few tons of this earthly delight,
D G D A
Yes, to shift a few tons of this earthly delight.
They died in their hundreds, with no sign to mark where,
D/A/A7/D
Their mark on this land is still seen and still laid,
The way for a commerce where vast fortunes were made,
G C
The canals and the bridges, the embankments and cuts
G C D
They blasted and dug with their sweat and their guts
G C
They never drank water but whiskey by pints
G D G
And the shanty towns rang with their songs and their fights
G C D
The morning is here and there's work to be done
G C G
Take your pick and your shovel and the bold dynamite
G C D G
For to shift a few tons of this earthly delight
G C D G
Yes to shift a few tons of this earthly delight
G C G
They died in their hundreds, no sign to mark where
G C D
Save the brass in the pocket of the entrepreneur
G C G
By landslip and rockblast they got buried so deep
G D G
That in death if not life they'll have peace while they sleep
G C D
The morning is here and there's work to be done
G C G
Take your pick and your shovel and the bold dynamite
G C D G
For to shift a few tons of this earthly delight
G C D G
Yes to shift a few tons of this earthly delight
G C G
Their mark on this land is still seen and still laid
G C D
The way for a commerce where vast fortunes were made
G C G
The supply of an Empire where the sun never set
G C D G
Which is now deep in darkness but the railway's there yet
G C D
The morning is here and there's work to be done
G C G
Take your pick and your shovel and the bold dynamite
G C D G
For to shift a few tons of this earthly delight
G C D G
Yes to shift a few tons of this earthly delight