The railroad came two bands of steel Where shortly before the wagon wheel That had left its mark on virgin land Well the road boss told the foreman and the foreman he told me We're gonna build a railroad through the mountains to the sea All together now come along boys Let's lay some track Well it's tamp them ties lay that steel and drive them spikes on down And when you swing that hammer better make it ring or you won't be around Hmm hmm gonna be the death of me Buildin' a railroad through the mountains to the sea You gotta shovel that tie for the bossman you better bear down on that jack Cause he's got no use for a railroad man that's afraid to bow his back Hmm hmm gonna be the death of me Buildin' a railroad through the mountains to the sea Well a powder man come and he blowed a hole tight in the mountain side A boulder fell on the bossman and I wished to my soul he'd a died Hmm hmm gonna be the death of me Buildin' a railroad through the mountains to the sea Well looky yonder comin' hey what do you think I see I swear them's pig tailed coolies and they're drivin' steel like me Hmm hmm gonna be the death of me Buildin' a railroad through the mountains to the sea All together now come along boys Let's drive the steel