driving the last spike lyrics

Leaving my family behind me
Not knowing what lay ahead
Waving goodbye as I left 'em 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
Don't think they knew what for

I sold them my heart, I sold them my soul
I gave everything I had
Oh, but they couldn't break my spirit
My dignity fought back, fight back

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 pullin' the wagons
We were diggin' the tunnels, shiftin' the earth
It was then that it happened

Well, no one knew how the cracks appeared
But as it fell they all disappeared
Stone fell like rain

Can you hear me? Can you see?
Don't you hear me? Can you breathe?
(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 the fear
But good fortune that day was mine
And it occurred to me the heart of a good man
It seems is hard to find

Can you hear me? Can you see?
Don't you hear me? 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
Sweat stingin' my eyes
There has to be a better life

Oh, but I can hear my children's cry
And I can see the tears in their eyes
Memories of those I've left behind
Still ringin' in my ears

Will I ever go back again?
Will I ever see her face again?
Oh, I'll never forget that night
As they waved goodbye to their fathers

We came from the North, well, 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
Liftin' and layin' the track
With blistering hands
The sun's burnin' your back

Oh, but I can hear my children's cry
I can see the tears in their eyes
Memories of those I've left behind
Still ringin' 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
Showin' no fear of what lies up ahead
They'll never see the likes of us again

Can you hear me? Can you see?
Don't you hear me? Don't you see?
(Don't you hear me? Don't you see?)