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