Myself and other musicians that I've met.
Song Info
Genre
Charts
Peak #168
Peak in subgenre #13
Author
Ed Laura
Rights
2005
Uploaded
April 06, 2008
Track Files
MP3
MP3 4.0 MB • 128 kbps • 4:23
Story behind the song
Inspired by a documentary with the same name. Go public TV!
Lyrics
2/18/03
Am Dm E Am
A gang to spread the timbers and a gang to lay the rails
Dm G E Am
A gang of men from Ireland all full of health and hale
Am Dm E Am
They were the westward tarriers on toward the Rio Grande
G E E7 Am
These lads were the rail carriers with a continent to span
(turn around after each verse) Am - - - G - - - Am - - - Am - G - Am-
(chorus)
Am Dm E7 Am
They carried up the rails of the Union Pacific
Dm G E7 Am
'till the sun set down on the rollin' grassy plains
Dm G E7 Am
The labor was relentless Oh, they worked the lads horrific
G E E7 Am
To make the way across the land for the steamer trains
"Grab an end and heave her to", the foreman he would say
"And get her spiked now Patty, Lord, we haven't got all day"
He gave them beer and water and bison with their bread
Another day and ten more miles before they'd see their bed
Through a sea of buffalo they leveled out the trail
"Go lay the iron down, me boys and get another rail"
"The China men are commin' lads they're on the mountain crest"
"Saints preserve us, lookie here we've got us a contest
chorus
They woke the gang with bagpipes oh, they'd rise before the sun
A dram or so of whiskey and the race it had begun
But it took more than a jigger, they'd been drinkin' all the while
To sustain the hearty spirit of the men from Emerald Isle
When they joined the lines together each and every man alike
Huddled 'round a man of Gentry who held the golden spike
He raised the mighty hammer and it slipped right through his fists
With many tries, before their eyes the spike was barely kissed
chorus
The foreman said "O'Malley you're the stoutest of the lot"
"Man the hammer laddie, come and show us what you've got"
O'Malley thought of Ireland and smiled so broad and grand
Then drove the spike up to the head with only his left hand
A swing to set that Golden Nail and a swing to drive her home
'twas all the hammer needed that evening in the gloam
A celebration did insue 'till late into the night
Oh the liquor poured like torrents and without a single fight
(slowly)
For the night O'Malley was a king out on the plains
'till the morning brought their passage abord the steamer trains
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