Song Lyrics

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
Ah 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 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 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 gods country like a knife
Sweat stinging my eyes, there has to be a better life

Ah but i can hear my childrens' cry
I can see the tears in their eyes
Memories of those i've left behind
Still ringing in my ears
Will i ever go back again
Will i ever see her face again
I'll never forget that night
As they waved goodbye to their fathers

We came from the north,
And 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,
Lifting and laying the track
With blistering hands,
The sun burning your back

Oh but i can hear my childrens' cry
I can see the tears in their eyes
Memories of those i've left behind
Still ringing 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
Showing 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

In the glow of the night


The grey of evening fills the room,
There's no need to look outside,
To see or feel the rain.
Then i reach across to touch her,
But i know that she's not there.
Rain keeps running down the window pane.
Time is running out for me.

Can't you see what you are doing to me?
Can't you see what you have done?
As i try to pass another long and sleepless night,
A hundred crazy voices call my name,
As i try to pass them by,
I almost can believe that she is here,
Here in the glow of the night.

Do you know what you have done?
Do you know what you've begun?
Do you see we shall never be together again?
All of my life.

Lonely people, empty rooms,
Pointless violence, silent tombs.
Could it be that we shall be together again?

Sheets of double glazing help to keep outside the night,
Only foreign city sirens can cut through,
Nylon sheets and blankets help to minimize the cold.
But they can't keep out the chilling sounds.
Will the nightmare soon give way to dreaming
That she is here with me?
Here in the glow of the night.

Do you know what you have done?
Do you know what you've begun?
Do you see we shall never be together again?
All of my life.

Lonely people, empty rooms,
Pointless violence, silent tombs.
Could it be that we shall be together again?
Could it be that we shall be together again?

In silence and darkness
We held each other near that night
We prayed it would last forever.


The last domino

Blood on the windows
Millions of ordinary people are there
They gaze at the scenery
They act as if it is perfectly clear
Take a look at the mountains
Take a look at the beautiful river of blood.

The liquid surrounds me
I fight to rise from this river of hell
I stare round about me
Children are swimming and playing with boats
Their features are changing
Their bodies dissolve and i am alone.

Now see what you've gone and done.
Now see what you've gone and done.

Well now you never did see such a terrible thing
As was seen last night on t.v.
Maybe if we're lucky, they will show it again
Such a terrible thing to see - oh
But there's nothing you can do when you're next in line
You've got to go domino.

Now i'm one with the living and i'm feeling just fine
I know just what i gotta do
Play the game of happiness and never let on
That it only lives on in a song - oh
Well there's nothing you can do when you're next in line
You've got to go domino.

Do you know what you have done?
Do you know what you've begun?

In silence and darkness
Hold each other near tonight
For will it last forever?
Will it last forever - forever...

There's nothing you can do when you're the next in line
You've got to go domino.

Do you know, do you know, do you know what you have done
Do you see what you've begun?
Cos there's nothing, nothing, nothing
There's nothing you can do, there's nothing you can do
Do you see, do you see what you have done?

Holy mother of god
You've got to go faster than that to get to the top.
Dirty old mountain
All covered in smoke, she can turn you to stone
So you better start doing it right
Better start doing it right.

You're halfway up and you're halfway down
And the pack on your back is turning you around.
Throw it away, you won't need it up there, and remember
You don't look back whatever you do.
Better start doing it right.

On your left and on your right
Crosses are green and crosses are blue
Your friends didn't make it through.
Out of the night and out of the dark
Into the fire and into the fight
Well that's the way the heroes go, ho! ho! ho!

Through a crack in mother earth,
Blazing hot, the molten rock
Spills out over the land.
And the lava's the lover who licks your boots away. hey! hey! hey!
If you don't want to boil as well.
B-b-better start the dance
D-d-do you want to dance with me.

You better start doing it right.

The music's playing, the notes are right
Put your left foot first and move into the light.
The edge of this hill is the edge of the world
And if you're going to cross you better start doing it right
Better start doing it right.

You better start doing it right.

Let the dance begin.