Abacab (DH)
DRIVING THE LAST SPIKE 
In the early 1800's, large groups of mainly unskilled labourers built
England's Railways. The cost in human terms alone was very high ...
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
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
but they couldn't break my spirit
my dignity fought back,
fightback
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 all disappeared
stone fell like rain
Can an you hear me,
Can you see
Don't you hear me
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 that 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,
through the rain
Blasting, cutting through Gods country like a knife
sweat stinging my eyes, there has to be a better life
But I can hear my children cry
I can see the tears in their eyes
memories of those I've lft behind
still ringing in my ears
Will I ever go back again
Will I ever see her face again
I'll never forget the night
As they waved goodbye to their fathers
We came from the South,
we came from the North
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
But I can hear my children cry
I can see the tears in their eyes
memories of those I've lft behind
still ringing in my ears
I will always remember that night,
As they waved goodbye to their fathers
We followed the rail, we slept under the stars
digging in darkness, living with danger
showing no fear of what lies up ahead
they'll never see the likes of us again
FADING LIGHTS
Another time it might have been so different
if only we could do it all again
but now it's just another fading memory
out of focus, though the outline still remains
Far away, away, fading distant lights
leaving us all behind, lost in a changing world
and you know that these are the days of our lives
remember
Like the story that we wish was never ending
We know sometime we must reach teh final page
still we carry on just pretending
that there'll always be another day to go
Far away, away, fading distant lights
leaving us all behind, lost in a changing world
and you know that these are the days of our lives
remember
Another chance hello, another goodbye
and so many things we'll never see again
days of life that seemed so unimportant
seem to matter and to count much later on
Far away, away, fading distant lights
leaving us all behind, lost in a changing world
and you know that these are the days of our lives
remember
HOME BY THE SEA
Creeping up the blind side, shinning up the wall
stealing thru the dark of night
Climbing thru a window, stepping to the floor
checking to the left and the right
Picking up the pieces, putting them away
something doesn't feel quite right
Help me someone, let me out of here
then out of the dark was suddenly heard
welcome to the Home by the Sea
Coming out the woodwork, thru the open door
pushing from above and below
shadows without substance, in the shape of men
round and down and sideways they go
adrift without direction, eyes that hold despair
then as one they sign and they moan
Help us someone, let us out of here
living here so long undisturbed
dreaming of the time we were free
so many years ago
before the time when we first heard
welcome to the Home by the Sea
Sit down Sit down
as we relive out lives in what we tell you
Images of sorrow, pictures of delight
things that go to make up a life
endless days of summer longer nights of gloom
waiting for the morning light
scenes of unimportance like photos in a frame
things that go to make up a life
Help us someone, let us out of here
living here so long undisturbed
dreaming of the time we were free
so many years ago
before the time when we first heard
welcome to the Home by the Sea
Sit down Sit down
as we relive out lives in what we tell you
let us relive out lives in what we tell you
Sit down sit down
cos you won't get away
so with us you will stay
for the rest of your days. So sit down
As we relive out lives in what we tell you
Let us relive out lives in what we tell you
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