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This is the final, checked-for-errors, intro-included version.
The song is played with the low E-string(s) tuned down to D and a capo on
the 3rd fret. The song is mostly based in D. This tuning gives the D
chord an especially huge sound. Try to avoid playing the low D on most
chords (except the D). I have put a (X) on the chord charts to remind you
of this.
Buy, borrow, beg, or steal a 12-string to play this on! This is a *RULE*
for this song!!! :-)
Lightfoot typically seems to concentrate on the high strings (say the top
four (or 8, if you've got a 12-string) for the jangly, percussive rhythms
and hits bass notes on a main beat. For the first three verses (and all
the rest just like them), play the D/C# bass chord as a regular D and just
hit that C# once as a bass note, and then the same goes for the B note in
the G chord. It sounds complicated, but it creates that descending bass
pattern on the A string. Just play along with the record a couple of
times. I'm sure you'll get the idea!
Feel that musically-metaphoric train chugging along and marvel at his
brilliance as he manages to combine the rhythm with the meaning of the
song...All aboard!!!
Anyway, follow the recording to get the rhythms. I finally decided to tab
the intro from the Gord's Gold album, since that is the version most
people seem to be most familiar with. Tablature's major limitation is the
lack of convenient way to notate rhythm. The way to count the intro is
"one-two-e-and-a..."
The Chords: (apologies in advance for any incorrect names)
D G D/C# bass G6
=========== X========== X========== X==========
----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
1 2 2 1 2 1
----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
3 3 4 3 3 4
----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
4
----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
LA DO LAm7 MIm
X========== X========== =========== ===========
1 1
----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
1 2 3 2 2 1 2 3
----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
3
----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
LA7addG LA7 MI LA7sus4
X========== X========== =========== ===========
1
----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
1 2 1 2 2 3 4 1
----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
3 3
----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
DOmaj7 RE7
X========== =========== =========== ===========
1
----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
2 2 3
----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
3
----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
Intro
RE SOL SOL/DO SOL SOL6
---2-2-2---2-2-2-----2-----2-----2-2-2-----2-2-2-----2-2-2---2-2-2-------
---3-3-3---3-3-3-----2-----2-----2-2-2-----2-2-2-----2-2-2---2-2-2-------
---2-2-2---2-2-2-----0-----0-----0-0-0-----0-0-0-----0-0-0---0-0-0-------
-----------------------0-2-----------------------------------2-2-2-------
-----------------0-2---------0-2-------0-3-------0-2-------0-------------
-0-------0---------------------------------------------------------------
SOL6 RE
---2-2-2---2-2-2---2-2-2---2-2-2-----------------------------------------
---2-2-2---2-2-2---3-3-3---3-3-3-----------------------------------------
---0-0-0---0-0-0---2-2-2---2-2-2-----------------------------------------
---2-2-2---2-2-2---------------------------------------------------------
-0-------0---------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------0-------0--------"There was..."-------------------------
Verses:
RE SOL RE
There was a time in this fair land when the railroads did not run
D/C#bass G G6
When the wild majestic mountains stood alone against the sun
RE SOL RE
And long before the white man and long before the wheel
LA DO RE LAm7 RE LAm7 RE
When the green dark forest was too silent to be real
RE SOL RE
But time has no beginnings and hist'ry has no bounds
D/C#bass G G6
As to this verdant country they came from all around
RE SOL RE
They sailed upon her waterways and they walked the forests tall
LA DO RE LAm7 RE LAm7
And built the mines the mills and the factories for the good of us all
RE SOL RE
And when the young man's fancy was turning in the spring
D/C#bass G G6
The railroad men grew restless for to hear the hammers ring
RE SOL RE
Their minds were overflowing with the visions of the day
LA DO RE
With many a fortune won and lost and many a debt to pay... For they
LA MIm
Looked in the future and what did they see
DO RE
They saw an iron road runnin' from the sea to the sea
LA MIm
Bringin the goods to a young growin' land
DO RE
All up from the seaports and into her hands
LAm7 RE LAm7 RE
Look away said they across this mighty land
LAm7 RE LAm7 RE
From the eastern shore to the western strand
LA MIm
Bring in the workers and bring up the rails
DO RE
We've gotta lay down the tracks and tear up the trails
LA MIm
Open 'er heart let the lifeblood flow
DO RE
Gotta get on our way cause we're moving too slow
LA MIm
Bring in the workers and bring up the rails
DO RE
We've gotta lay down the tracks and tear up the trails
LA MIm
Open 'er heart let the lifeblood flow
DO RE
Gotta get on our way cause we're moving too slow
DO LA LA7addG
Get on our way cause we're movin' too slow...
RE SOL LA7
Behind the blue Rockies the sun is declinin'
RE SOL MI LA LA7
The stars they come stealin' at the close of the day
RE SOL LA7 RE
Across the wide prairie our loved ones lie sleeping
RE SOL LA7sus4 RE
Beyond the dark oceans in a place far away
RE SOL LA7
We are the navvies who work upon the railway
RE SOL MI LA LA7
Swingin our hammers in the bright mornin' sun
RE SOL LA7
Livin' on stew and drinking bad whiskey
RE SOL LA7sus4 RE
Bendin' our old backs till the long days are done
RE SOL LA7
We are the navvies who work upon the railway
RE SOL MI LA LA7
Swingin our hammers in the bright mornin' sun
RE SOL LA7
Layin' down track and buildin' the bridges
RE LA7sus4 RE
Bendin' our old backs till the railroad is done...
LA MIm
So over the mountains and over the plains
DO RE
Into the muskeg and into the rain
LA MIm
Up the St. Lawrence all the way to Gaspe
DO RE
Swingin' our hammers and drawin' our pay
LA MIm
Drivin' 'em in and tyin' 'em down
DO RE
Away to the bunkhouse and into the town
LA MIm
A dollar a day and a place for my head
DO LA LA7
A drink to the livin' a toast to the dead
RE LAm7 RE
Oh the song of the future has been sung, all the battles have been won
LAm7 RE
O'er the mountain tops we stand, all the world at our command
LAm7 RE LAm7 LA
We have opened up this soil with our teardrops...and our toil... For there
RE SOL RE
Was a time in this fair land when the railroads did not run
D/C#bass G G6
When the wild majestic mountains stood alone against the sun
RE SOL RE
And long before the white man and long before the wheel
LA DO RE
When the green dark forest was too silent to be real
LA DO RE
When the green dark forest was too silent to be real
LA DO DOmaj7 RE7
And many are the dead men...too silent... to be real
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