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GORDON LIGHTFOOT - Canadian Railroad Trilogy
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Tabbed by: ClassicManiac
DIAGRAMS for the maj7-chords:
Dmaj7 Cmaj7
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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 Am D Am D
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 Am D Am D
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
C D C D
From the eastern shore to the western strand
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 Am D Am D
too silent... to be real
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Have a good time playing it! Comments and suggestions for improvement are always welcome :-)
