Driving the Last Spike
Genesis
Watch: New Singing Lesson Videos Can Make Anyone A Great Singer
Leaving my family behind me Not knowing what lay ahead Waving goodbye, as I left them in tears Remembering all we'd said I looked to the sky, I offered my prayers I asked Him for guidance and strength But the simple beliefs of a simple man Lay in His hands, and on my head My head I gave everything that they wanted But still they wanted more We sweat and we toiled Good men lost their lives I don't think they knew what for I sold them my heart I sold them my soul I gave everything I had But they couldn't break my spirit My dignity fought back Fightback Just fightback Can you hear me Can you see Don't you hear me Don't you see We worked in gangs for all we were worth The young boys pulling the wagons We were digging the tunnels, shifting the earth It was then that it happened No-one knew how the cracks appeared But as it fell they all disappeared Stone fell like rain Can you hear me Can you see Don't you hear me Can you breathe The smoke cleared, the dust it settled No one knew how many had died All around there were broken men They'd said it was safe, and they'd lied You could hear the cries, you could smell the fear But good fortune that day was mine And it occurred to me that the heart of a good man It seems is hard to find Can you hear me Can you see Don't you hear me Don't you see How we worked, how we worked like The devil for our pay Through the wind, through the snow And through the rain Blasting and cutting through Gods country like a knife Sweat stinging my eyes, there has to be a better life But I can hear my children's cry I can see the tears in their eyes Memories of those I've left behind Oh just still ringing in my ears Will I ever go back again Will I ever see her face again 'cause I'll always remember that night As they waved goodbye to their fathers We came from the North And we came from the South With picks and with spades And a new kind of order Showing no fear of what lies up ahead They'll never see the likes of us again Driving the last spike Lifting and laying the track With blistering hands And the sun burning your back But I can hear my children's cry I can see the tears in their eyes Oh memories of those I've left behind Still ringing in my ears 'cause I'll always remember that night As they waved goodbye to their fathers We followed the rail, we slept under the stars Digging in darkness and living with danger Showing no fear of what lies up ahead They'll never see the likes of us again Can you hear me Can you see Don't you hear me Don't you see
Watch: New Singing Lesson Videos Can Make Anyone A Great Singer
6 fans
Written by: ANTHONY GEORGE BANKS, PHILLIP DAVID CHARLES COLLINS, MICHAEL RUTHERFORD
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
10 facts about this song
Album Information"Driving the Last Spike" is a song off of Genesis' fourteenth studio album, "We Can't Dance". The album was released on November 11, 1991, and is the last album featuring Phil Collins as a member of the band.
|
Song DurationThe song is 10 minutes and 8 seconds long, making it one of the longest tracks on the album, which is known for its longer compositions.
|
Historical ContextThe song's title, "Driving the Last Spike", refers to a significant historical event, the completion of the Transcontinental Railroad in North America when the last spike, the Golden Spike, was driven.
|
Song InspirationHowever, the song itself was inspired by the labors and lives of the people who built the British railway system in the 19th century, not the American Transcontinental Railroad.
|
Composer InformationPhil Collins, one of the primary composers of this track, is also the lead vocalist. Besides Collins, other main band members Mike Rutherford and Tony Banks also contributed significantly to its composition.
|
Phil Collins' PerspectiveCollins has spoken about the song several times in interviews, describing it as being about "the English navvies who built the railways – and died building them."
|
LyricsThe lyrics of the song reflect on the harsh conditions experienced by the laborers, emphasizing the sacrifice, hard work, and their eventual demise while working on the railway line.
|
Musical Breakdown"Driving the Last Spike" is recognized for its progressive rock sound and features several shifts in tempo and time signature, typical of the Genesis style during the Phil Collins era.
|
ReceptionThe song, along with the entire album, received mixed reviews from critics but was mostly well-received by fans. The band was praised for their ability to convey a strong emotion and tell a historical story in a unique way.
|
Live Performances"Driving the Last Spike" was performed live during the Genesis 'We Can't Dance' Tour between 1992 and 1993. However, because of its length and complexity, it hasn’t been performed frequently in subsequent tours.
|
Citation
Use the citation below to add these lyrics to your bibliography:
Style:MLAChicagoAPA
"Driving the Last Spike Lyrics." Lyrics.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 26 Apr. 2024. <https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/1538771/Genesis/Driving+the+Last+Spike>.
Powered by CITE.ME
Discuss the Driving the Last Spike Lyrics with the community:
Report Comment
We're doing our best to make sure our content is useful, accurate and safe.
If by any chance you spot an inappropriate comment while navigating through our website please use this form to let us know, and we'll take care of it shortly.
Attachment
You need to be logged in to favorite.
Log In