Driving The Last Spike

Leaving my family behind me

Not knowing what lay ahead

Waving goodbye, 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

(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

Ah, but they couldn't break my spirit

My dignity fought back

(Fight back)

(Just fight back)

Ah, 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

No one knew how the cracks appeared

But as it fell they, they disappeared

Stone fell like rain

Ah, can you hear me?

Can you see?

Don't you hear me?

(Can) can you breathe?

The smoke cleared

The dust it settled

No one knew how many had died

All around there were broken men

They'd said it was safe

They'd lied

You could hear the cries

You could smell our fear

But good fortune that day was mine

And it occurred to me that the heart of a good man

It seems is hard to find

Ah, can you hear me?

Can you see?

(Don't) don't you hear me?

(Don't) don't you see?

We worked

How we worked like the devil for our pay

Through the wind

Through the snow and through the rain

Blasting and cutting through God's country like a knife

With sweat stinging my eyes

There has to be a better life

But I can hear my childrens cry

I can see the tears in their eyes

Memories of those I've left behind

Still ringing in my ears

Will I ever go back again?

Will I ever see her face again?

'Cause I'll always remember the night

As they waved goodbye to their fathers

We came from the north

We came from the south

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

Lifting and laying the track

With blistering hands

The Sun burning your back

Oh, but I can hear my childrens cry

I can see the tears in their eyes

Oh, the memories of those I've left behind

They're still ringing in my ears

Well, I'll always remember that night

As they waved goodbye to their fathers

We followed the rail

We slept under the stars

Digging in darkness and living with danger

Showing no fear of what lies up ahead

They'll never see the likes of us again

Ah, can you hear me?

Can you see?

(Don't) don't you hear me?

(Don't) don't you see?