Driving the Last Spike lyrics

Leaving my family behind me

Not knowing what lay ahead

Waving good-bye, 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

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

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 tunnel, shifting the earth

It was then that it happened

Noone 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

Noone knew how many had died

All around there wer broken men

They'd said it was safe, they'd lied

You could hear the cries, you could smell the fear

But good fortune that day was mine

And it occured to me 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?

We worked, how we worked like

The devil for our pay

Trough the wind, through the snow

And through the rain

Blasting and cutting through God's country like a knife

Sweat stinging in my eyes, there has to be a better life

But I can see my children cry

I can see the tears in her eyes

Memories of those I've left behind

Still ringing in my ears

Will I ever go bakc again

Will I ever see her face again

I'll never forget that night

As they waved good-bye to their fathers

We came from the South

We came from the North

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

Lifiting and laying the track

With blistering hands

The sun burning your back

But I can see my children cry

I can see the tears in her eyes

Memories of those I've left behind

Still ringing in my ears

Will I ever go bakc again

Will I ever see her face again

I'll always remember that night

As they waved good-bye to their fathers

We followed the rail, we slept under the stars

Digging in darkness, living with danger

Showing no fear of what lies up ahead

They'll never see the likes of us again