C                   F                       C
There was a time in this fair land when the railroad did not run
C                      F                G
When the wild majestic mountains stood alone against the sun
C               F             C
Long before the white man and long before the wheel
C                   G              Bb           C     Gm  C  Gm  C
When the green dark forest was too silent to be real.

But time has not beginnings and histr'y 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.

And when the young man's fancy was turnin' in the spring
The railroad men grew restless for to hear the hammers ring.
Their minds were over-flowin' with the visions of their day
And many a fortune won and lost and many a debt to pay.

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.

C        G                        Dm
For they looked in the future and what did they see
            Bb                         C
They saw an iron road running from the sea to the sea
G                       Dm
Bringin' the goods to a young growin' land
    Bb                       C
All up from the seaports and into their hands

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 movin' too slow.
Bb                          G
Get on our way 'cause we're movin' too slow.

  C                         F        G
Behind the blue Rockies the sun is declinin'
    C               F               D            G
The stars they come stealin' at the close of the day.
 C                           F              G
Across the wide prairies our loved ones lie sleeping
  C             F           G          C
Beyond the dark forest in a place far away.

We are the plow-boys who work upon the railway
Swingin' our hammers in the bright blazin' sun
Livin' on stew and drinkin' bad whiskey
Layin' down track 'til the long days are done.
      C           F              G           C     C  Gm  C  Gm
Yeah, bendin' our backs 'til the railroad is done.

Gm      C           Gm              C
Now the song of the future has been sung
C       Gm                C
All the battles have been won
       Gm               C
On the mountain tops we stand
        Gm              C
All the world at our command
        Gm            C
We have opened up the soil
         Gm                G
With our teardrops and our toil

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.

But time has not beginnings and histr'y 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.

And when the young man's fancy was turnin' in the spring
The railroad men grew restless for to hear the hammers ring.
Their minds were over-flowin' with the visions of their day
And many a fortune won and lost and many a debt to pay.

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
C                   G              Bb           C     
When the green dark forest was too silent to be real.
                    G              Bb           C
When the green dark forest was too silent to be real.
                 G            Bb            C      Gm    C 
And many are the dead men too silent too be real