[Part I]

[Verse 1]
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

[Verse 2]
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 her forests tall
Built the mines, mills, the factories for the good of us all

[Verse 3]
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
With many a fortune lost and won and many a debt to pay

[Part II]

[Verse 4]
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 their hands
[Bridge]
Look away said they across this mighty land
From the eastern shore to the western strand

[Verse 5]
Bring in the workers and bring up the rails
We gotta lay down track 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 moving too slow

[Part III]

[Verse 6]
Behind the blue Rockies the sun is declinin'
The stars, they come stealing at the close of the day
Across the wide prairies our loved ones lie sleeping
Beyond the dark oceans in a place far away

[Verse 7]
We are the navvies who work upon the railway
Swingin' our hammers in the bright blazing sun
Livin' on stew and drinkin' bad whiskey
Bending our backs 'til the long days are done

[Verse 8]
We are the navvies who work upon the railway
Swingin' our hammers in the bright blazing sun
Layin' down track and building the bridges
Bending our backs 'til the railroad is done
[Part II Reprise]

[Verse 9]
So over the mountains and over the plains
Into the muskeg and into the rain
Up the St. Lawrence all the way to Gaspé
Swingin' our hammers and drawin' our pay

[Verse 10]
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

[Interlude]
Oh, the song of the future has been sung
All the battles have been won
On the mountain tops we stand
All the world at our command
We have opened up the soil
With our teardrops and our toil

[Part I Reprise]

[Verse 1]
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