Send away your prayers Hammer down the nails Do the same tomorrow A penny for your pain Another mile of rails Another unblessed day Your back is bent, fingers hurt Mouth is full of dirt
Over mountain and lakes so blue We will take the iron mule The railway must come through
Inch by inch, like a snail so slow But soon the iron mule will glow From the southern shores To the harbours of the north
21 And old Winter wind is cold Lungs they bleed for the iron mule To make way for the new Fever makes you weak, you cry yourself to sleep Arms they keep on pounding on Sledge it weighs a ton
Over mountain and lakes so blue We will take the iron mule In a year and a day The railway must come through
Inch by inch, like a snail so slow But soon the iron mule will go In sun and rain From now and ever on
