There was a time in this fair land when the railroads did not run
When the wild majestic mountains stood alone against the sun
And 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 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 built the mines the mills and the factories for the good of us all
And when the young man's fancy was turning in the spring
The railroad men grew restless for to hear the hammers ring
Their minds were overflowing with the visions of the day
With many a fortune won and lost and many a debt to pay For they
Looked in the future and what did they see
They saw an iron road runnin' from the sea to the sea
Bringin the goods to a young growin' land
All up from the seaports and into her 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've gotta lay down the tracks and tear up the trails
Open 'er heart let the lifeblood flow
Gotta get on our way cause we're moving too slow
Bring in the workers and bring up the rails
We've gotta lay down the tracks and tear up the trails
Open 'er heart let the lifeblood flow
Gotta get on our way cause we're moving 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 navies who work upon the railway
Swingin our hammers in the bright blazin' sun
Livin' on stew and drinking bad whiskey
Bendin' our old backs till the long days are done
We are the navies who work upon the railway
Swingin our hammers in the bright blazin' sun
Layin' down track and buildin' the bridges
Bendin' our old backs till 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' 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 this soil with our teardrops and our toil For there
Was a time in this fair land when the railroads did not run
When the wild majestic mountains stood alone against the sun
And 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