The Western Pass

Lyrics

I am William of the Valley
A surveyor of the line
To chart the rocky passes
And the thickets of the pine
Old Yorkshire and the wild lands
Are measured by my hand
It was my calling from my youth
To map this rugged land

They call me Thomas Archer
An engineer of steel
I design the iron trestles
And the heavy traction wheel
They thought I'd be a miller
And grind the golden grain
But I had other dreams instead
To tame the mountain chain

We are climbing to the western pass
A world away from the dusty plain
Climbing to the western pass
To lay the track
The Great Pacific train

Now you're a steady hand, William
But this granite will not bend
This canyon wall will break our backs
Before we reach the end
You speak of iron bridges
And rivers we will span
But we are just two weary souls
Lost in a giant land

But look upon the valley, Thomas
The morning light is clear
The summit lies behind us now
Our destiny is near
Come up and feel the mountain wind
A new day has begun
Another mile of iron track
Beneath the western sun

We are climbing to the western pass
A world away from the dusty plain
Climbing to the western pass
To lay the track
The Great Pacific train

To lay the track
The Great Pacific train