-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- GORDON LIGHTFOOT - Canadian Railroad Trilogy -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- DIAGRAMS for the maj7-chords: DCmaj7 |----2--------0-----| |----2--------0-----| |----2--------0-----| |----0--------2-----| |-------------3-----| |----X--------X-----| CAPO 3 (to be in key with Ol' Gord) D G D There was a time in this fair land when the railroad did not run Dmaj7 G A When the wild majestic mountains stood alone against the sun D G D Long before the white man and long before the wheel D A C D Dm When the green dark forest was too silent to be real D G D But time has no beginnings and the history has no bounds Dmaj7 G A As to this verdant country they came from all around D G D They sailed upon her waterways and they walked the forests tall D A C D Dm Built the mines, the mills and the factories for the good of us all D G D And when the young man's fancy had turned into the spring Dmaj7 G A The railroad men grew restless for to hear the hammers ring D G D Their minds were overflowing with the visions of their day D A C D With many a fortune won and lost and many a debt to pay A Em For they looked in the future and what did they see C D They saw an iron road running from the sea to the sea A Em Bringing the goods to a young growing land C D All up from the seaports and into their hands C D C D Look away said they across this mighty land CDCD A Em Bring in the workers and bring up the rails C D We gotta lay down the tracks and tear up the trails A Em Open her heart let the life blood flow C D Gotta get on our way 'cause we're moving too slow A Em Bring in the workers and bring up the rails C D We gotta lay down the tracks and tear up the trails A Em Open her heart let the life blood flow C D Gotta get on our way 'cause we're moving too slow C A (fadeout A) Get on our way 'cause we're moving too slow D G A Behind the blue Rockies the sun is declining D G E A A7 The stars they come stealing at the close of the day D D7 G A Across the wide prairie our loved ones lie sleeping D G A D Beyond the dark oceans in a place far away D G A We are the navvies who work upon the railway D G E A A7 Swinging our hammers in the bright blazing sun D D7 G A Living on stew and drinking bad whiskey D G A D Bending our backs til the long days are done D G A We are the navvies who work upon the railway D G E A A7 Swinging our hammers in the bright blazing sun D D7 G A Laying down track and building the bridges D G A D Bending our old backs til the railroad... is done A Em So over the mountains and over the plains C D Into the muskeg and into the rain A Em Up the St. Lawrence all the way to Gaspe C D Swinging our hammers and drawing our pay A Em Drivin' 'em in and tying them down C D Away to the bunkhouse and into the town A Em A dollar a day and a place for my head C A A drink to the living, a toast to the dead D Am D Oh the song of the future has been sung Am D All the battles have been won Am D On the mountain tops we stand Am D All the world at our command Am D We have opened up her soil Am (hit once!) A With our teardrops... and our toil D G D For there was a time in this fair land when the railroad did not run Dmaj7 G A When the wild majestic mountains stood alone against the sun D G D Long before the white man and long before the wheel D A C D When the green dark forest was too silent to be real D A C D When the green dark forest was too silent to be real D A (let ring... pause) And many are the dead men? C Cmaj7 D Dm too silent... to be real ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Have a good time playing it! Comments and suggestions for improvement are always welcome :-)