[00:26.54]Leaving my family behind me
[00:32.49]not knowing what lay ahead
[00:37.49]waving goodbye, as I left them in tears
[00:43.19]remembering all we'd said
[00:47.39]I looked to the sky, I offered my prayers
[00:53.69]I asked Him for guidance and strength
[00:58.74]but the simple beliefs of a simple man
[01:04.99]lay in His hands, and on my head
[01:19.49]I gave everything that they wanted
[01:25.54]but still they wanted more
[01:30.59]we sweat and we toiled
[01:33.44]good men lost their lives
[01:36.24]I don't think they knew what for
[01:40.44]I sold them my heart
[01:43.64]I sold them my soul
[01:46.49]I gave everything I had
[01:50.94]ah but they couldn't break my spirit
[01:57.19]my dignity fought back,
[02:00.59]fightback
[02:03.49]can you hear me
[02:06.49]can you see
[02:09.49]Don't you hear me
[02:12.44]don't you see
[02:15.54]We worked in gangs for all we were worth
[02:21.04]the young boys pulling the wagons
[02:25.99]we were digging the tunnel, shifting the earth
[02:32.09]it was then that it happened.
[02:36.49]No-one knew how the cracks appeared
[02:42.59]but as it fell they all disappeared
[02:47.69]stone fell like rain
[02:50.79]Can you hear me,
[02:53.79]Can you see
[02:56.84]Don't you hear me
[02:59.74]Can you breathe
[03:02.89]The smoke cleared, the dust it settled
[03:08.54]No one knew how many had died
[03:13.69]all around there were broken men
[03:19.19]they'd said it was safe, they'd lied
[03:23.74]you could hear the cries, you could smell the fear
[03:29.44]but good fortune that day was mine
[03:34.59]and it occurred to me the heart of a good man
[03:40.79]it seems is hard to find.
[03:44.89]Can you hear me,
[03:47.94]can you see
[03:50.89]Don't you hear me
[03:53.89]don't you see
[03:57.09]We worked, how we worked like
[04:02.19]the devil for our pay
[04:05.74]through the wind, through the snow,
[04:10.99]and through the rain
[04:13.69]Blasting and cutting through Gods country like a knife
[04:19.79]sweat stinging my eyes, there has to be a better life
[04:25.44]Ah but I can hear my childrens' cry
[04:31.29]I can see the tears in their eyes
[04:36.49]memories of those I've left behind
[04:42.79]still ringing in my ears
[04:46.49]Will I ever go back again
[04:52.29]Will I ever see her face again
[04:57.49]I'll never forget that night
[05:03.04]As they waved goodbye to their fathers
[05:07.74]We came from the North,
[05:13.14]and we came from the South
[05:16.89]with picks and with spades
[05:20.69]and a new kind of order
[05:25.89]showing no fear of what lies up ahead
[05:31.89]They'll never see the likes of us again
[05:36.44]Driving the last spike,
[05:41.84]lifting and laying the track
[05:45.99]with blistering hands,
[05:51.54]the sun burning your back
[05:55.79]Oh but I can hear my childrens' cry
[06:01.39]I can see the tears in their eyes
[06:06.59]memories of those I've left behind
[06:12.79]still ringing in my ears
[06:16.64]Well I'll always remember that night,
[06:22.24]As they waved goodbye to their fathers
[06:27.29]We followed the rail, we slept under the stars
[06:32.99]digging in darkness, and living with danger
[06:38.89]showing no fear of what lies up ahead
[06:44.89]they'll never see the likes of us again
[06:49.09]can you hear me
[06:52.39]can you see
[06:55.39]Don't you hear me
[06:58.39]don't you see