Gordon Lightfoot – Canadian Railroad Trilogy (Live In Reno)

About the song

Canadian Railroad Trilogy: An Epic Ballad of Nation-Building

In the realm of folk music, few songs have captured the spirit of a nation quite like Gordon Lightfoot’s Canadian Railroad Trilogy. This sprawling, three-part epic, released in 1967, chronicles the monumental task of constructing the Canadian Pacific Railway, a feat of engineering that transformed the country’s landscape and identity.

Lightfoot’s poignant lyrics weave a tapestry of tales, painting vivid scenes of the backbreaking labor, the indomitable spirit, and the unwavering determination of the workers who laid the tracks that would bind Canada together. From the frozen expanses of the North to the rugged peaks of the Rockies, the song traverses the vast expanse of the nation, capturing the essence of a land both harsh and beautiful.

The Canadian Railroad Trilogy is not merely a historical ballad; it is an ode to the human spirit’s ability to overcome adversity and achieve the seemingly impossible. Lightfoot’s masterful storytelling draws the listener into the heart of the narrative, making us feel the bone-chilling cold, the aching muscles, and the unwavering hope that sustained these workers through the toughest of times.

The song’s enduring popularity is a testament to its power to connect with listeners on a deeply personal level. It is a song that resonates with anyone who has ever faced a daunting challenge, reminding us that with perseverance and determination, we can achieve great things.

Canadian Railroad Trilogy is more than just a song; it is a cultural touchstone, a symbol of Canadian pride and resilience. It is a song that has been passed down through generations, sung around campfires and in living rooms, its melodies and lyrics echoing through the vastness of the country it celebrates.

As we listen to the Canadian Railroad Trilogy, we are transported back in time, to a moment when a nation was being forged. We hear the clang of hammers, the rumble of trains, and the indomitable spirit of a people determined to build a better future. It is a song that stirs the soul and leaves an indelible mark on the heart.

Video

Lyrics

“Canadian Railroad Trilogy”

 

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, 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 won and lost and many a debt to pay

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

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 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 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
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

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

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