Canadian Railroad Trilogy
Gordon Lightfoot
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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 no beginnings and hist'ry 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 the mills and the factories for the good of us all And when the young man's fancy was turnin' to the spring The railroad men 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 For they looked in the future and what did they see They saw an iron road runnin' from sea to the sea Bringin' the goods to a young growin' land All up through the seaports and into their 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 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 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 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 navvies who work upon the railway Swingin' our hammers in the bright blazin' sun Livin' on stew and drinkin' bad whiskey Bendin' our old backs 'til the long days are done 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 old backs 'til 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' and 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 the soil With our teardrops and our toil 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
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Written by: Gordon Lightfoot
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
10 facts about this song
Musical Style"Canadian Railroad Trilogy" is one of Gordon Lightfoot's most famous folk songs. The storytelling genre of the song and its rich, detailed lyrics vividly depict the history of the Canadian Pacific Railway.
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CreationThe song was commissioned by the CBC (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation) in 1967 as part of Canada's Centennial celebrations, making it a landmark song in the country's cultural history.
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Historical SignificanceThe lyrics narrate the national achievement of building the transcontinental railway across Canada. The story spans the period from 1870 to 1885, referencing both the struggles and the triumphs involved in this project.
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AlbumThe song was initially part of Gordon Lightfoot's 1967 album, "The Way I Feel".
- In 1969, a live version was released on the album "Sunday Concert", which is often cited as the definitive version due to its 7 minute length and Lightfoot's passionate performance.
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PerformanceThe song's composition requires a high level of vocal stamina and often features complex guitar fingerpicking, demonstrating Lightfoot's musical expertise.
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Recognition"Canadian Railroad Trilogy" is officially recognized as a significant work of national history. The manuscript of the song is housed in the National Library of Canada.
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Poetic NatureThe song has a poetic three-part structure, which made Lightfoot refer to it as a trilogy, inspiring the name. Each part of the song details a distinct phase of the railway construction.
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InfluenceThe song inspired a children's book by the same name, authored by Gordon Lightfoot and lavishly illustrated by renowned Canadian painter Ian Wallace.
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TimelessnessDecades after its release, "Canadian Railroad Trilogy" remains a beloved song in Canada and around the world, testifying to Lightfoot's knack for weaving historical events into moving, timeless music.
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HonorsIn 2002, "Canadian Railroad Trilogy" was honored with inclusion in the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame, cementing its place as a significant piece of Canadian music history.
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Citation
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