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Canadian Railroad Trilogy Lyrics by Gordon Lightfoot

Songbook

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[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 men 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 the forests tall
Built the mines, mills and the factories for the good of us all
[Verse 3]
And whеn the young man's fancy was turning to the spring
The railroad mеn 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
[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 through 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 the tracks and tear up the trails
Open 'er heart let the life blood flow
Gotta get on our way 'cause we're movin' too slow
[Verse 6]
Bring in the workers and bring up the rails
We're gonna lay down the tracks and tear up the trails
Open 'er heart let the life blood flow
Gotta get on our way 'cause we're movin' too slow
Get on our way 'cause we're movin' too slow
[Part III]
[Verse 7]
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
[Verse 8]
We are the navvies who work upon the railway
Swingin' our hammers in the bright blazin' sun
Livin' on stew and drinkin' bad whiskey
Bendin' our backs 'til the long days are done
[Verse 9]
We are the navvies who work upon the railway
Swingin' our hammers in the bright blazin' sun
Layin' down track and buildin' the bridges
Bendin' our backs 'til the railroad is done
[Part II Reprise]
[Verse 10]
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 11]
Layin' '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 men 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
Credits
Gordon Lightfoot

Gordon Lightfoot

About “Canadian Railroad Trilogy” by Gordon Lightfoot

Read the complete lyrics to "Canadian Railroad Trilogy" by Gordon Lightfoot from the album "Songbook". On Lyrks you can follow along with the full text, explore the artist's discography, and discover related songs. The track is often categorized under Pop.

"Canadian Railroad Trilogy" is performed by Gordon Lightfoot. from the album "Songbook" This page provides the full lyric text for fans who want to sing along, study the songwriting, or compare versions across releases. Lyrks organizes lyrics by artist and song slug so you can bookmark and share a stable URL. Music lyrics help listeners connect with emotion, narrative, and rhythm in a track. Whether you are learning English, researching a favorite chorus, or preparing for karaoke, having accurate line breaks and section labels (verse, chorus, bridge) makes the experience easier. We link to the official artist profile on Lyrks where available, including biography snippets, top songs, and chart placements when we have that data. If you enjoy "Canadian Railroad Trilogy", explore more songs by Gordon Lightfoot using the links below. Chart and trending pages on Lyrks highlight what listeners are searching for this week. For copyright or correction requests, see our DMCA and contact pages.

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Frequently asked questions

"Canadian Railroad Trilogy" is credited to Gordon Lightfoot. Songwriting credits may include additional writers listed on the release; check the credits section on this page for linked collaborators.

"Canadian Railroad Trilogy" appears on "Songbook".

Visit the Gordon Lightfoot artist page at /artist/gordon-lightfoot for biography, popular tracks, and links to more lyric pages.