Tabs guitar
Video
- 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 Dchord an especially huge sound. Try to avoid playing the low D on mostchords (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 rhythmsand hits bass notes on a main beat. For the first three verses (and allthe 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 inthe G chord. It sounds complicated, but it creates that descending basspattern 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 thesong...All aboard!!!
- Anyway, follow the recording to get the rhythms. I finally decided to tabthe intro from the Gord's Gold album, since that is the version mostpeople 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
- | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |----------- ----------- ----------- -----------| | | 1 | 2 | 2 | | | | | | | 1 | 2 | | 1 | | |
- ----------- ----------- ----------- -----------| | | | 3 | | | | | 3 4 | | | | 3 | | | | | 3 4----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
- | | | | | | | | | | | | | 4 | | | | | | | | | |----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
- A C Am7 EmX========== X========== =========== ===========| | | | | | | | | | 1 | | | | | 1 | | | | | | |
- ----------- ----------- ----------- -----------| | 1 2 3 | | | 2 | | | | | 2 | | | 1 2 3 | | |----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
- | | | | | | | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |----------- ----------- ----------- -----------| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
- ----------- ----------- ----------- -----------A7addG A7 E A7sus4
- X========== X========== =========== ===========| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1 | | | | | | | |----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
- | | 1 | 2 | | | 1 | 2 | 2 3 4 | | | | | 1 | | |----------- ----------- ----------- -----------| | | | | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 3 |
- ----------- ----------- ----------- -----------| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
- Cmaj7 D7X========== =========== =========== ===========
- | | | | | | | | | | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | |----------- ----------- ----------- -----------| | 2 | | | | | | 2 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | |
- ----------- ----------- ----------- -----------| 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
- | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
- Intro:D G G/C G G6
- ---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---------------------------------------------------------------
- G6 D---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:D G D
- There was a time in this fair land when the railroads did not runD/C#bass G G6When the wild majestic mountains stood alone against the sun
- D G DAnd long before the white man and long before the wheelA C D Am7 D Am7 D
- When the green dark forest was too silent to be realD G D
- But time has no beginnings and hist'ry has no boundsD/C#bass G G6As to this verdant country they came from all around
- D G DThey sailed upon her waterways and they walked the forests tallA C D Am7 D Am7
- And built the mines the mills and the factories for the good of us allD G D
- And when the young man's fancy was turning in the springD/C#bass G G6The railroad men grew restless for to hear the hammers ring
- D G DTheir minds were overflowing with the visions of the dayA C D
- With many a fortune won and lost and many a debt to pay... For theyA Em
- Looked in the future and what did they seeC DThey saw an iron road runnin' from the sea to the sea
- A EmBringin the goods to a young growin' landC D
- All up from the seaports and into her handsAm7 D Am7 D
- Look away said they across this mighty landAm7 D Am7 DFrom the eastern shore to the western strand
- A EmBring in the workers and bring up the rails
- C DWe've gotta lay down the tracks and tear up the trailsA Em
- Open 'er heart let the lifeblood flowC DGotta get on our way cause we're moving too slow
- A EmBring in the workers and bring up the rails
- C DWe've gotta lay down the tracks and tear up the trailsA Em
- Open 'er heart let the lifeblood flowC DGotta get on our way cause we're moving too slow
- C A A7addGGet on our way cause we're movin' too slow...
- D G A7Behind the blue Rockies the sun is declinin'D G E A A7
- The stars they come stealin' at the close of the dayD G A7 DAcross the wide prairie our loved ones lie sleeping
- D G A7sus4 DBeyond the dark oceans in a place far away
- D G A7We are the navvies who work upon the railwayD G E A A7
- Swingin our hammers in the bright mornin' sunD G A7Livin' on stew and drinking bad whiskey
- D G A7sus4 DBendin' our old backs till the long days are done
- D G A7We are the navvies who work upon the railwayD G E A A7
- Swingin our hammers in the bright mornin' sunD G A7Layin' down track and buildin' the bridges
- D A7sus4 DBendin' our old backs till the railroad is done...
- A EmSo over the mountains and over the plainsC D
- Into the muskeg and into the rainA EmUp the St. Lawrence all the way to Gaspe
- C DSwingin' our hammers and drawin' our pay
- A EmDrivin' 'em in and tyin' 'em downC D
- Away to the bunkhouse and into the townA EmA dollar a day and a place for my head
- C A A7A drink to the livin' a toast to the dead
- D Am7 DOh the song of the future has been sung, all the battles have been wonAm7 D
- O'er the mountain tops we stand, all the world at our commandAm7 D Am7 AWe have opened up this soil with our teardrops...and our toil... For there
- D G DWas a time in this fair land when the railroads did not run
- D/C#bass G G6When the wild majestic mountains stood alone against the sunD G D
- And long before the white man and long before the wheelA C DWhen the green dark forest was too silent to be real
- A C DWhen the green dark forest was too silent to be realA C Cmaj7 D7
- And many are the dead men...too silent... to be real
- PLAY TOO ..
Tabs guitar - LIGHTFOOT GORDON Canadian Railroad Trilogy Chordsound to play your music, study scales, positions for guitar, search, manage, request and send chords, lyrics and sheet music
Canadian Railroad Trilogy
