At the old town hall, where I was tending stable,
Swing boys swing, together rise and fall
I heard a foreman cry, "all hand strong and able
won't you join our gang, common heed the call"
Chorus
And it's Swing boys swing, god speed your hammers
swing boys swing, grunt and heave and wail
swing boys swing, too hell with all your manners
swing boys swing, spike the ties and rails
There were men of every walk, from prisoners up to masons
Swing boys swing, together rise and fall
Engineers with talk of lines to cross the nation
and iron horse will run thru field and forest tall
Chorus
Ah, well first we laid the trunk from Kingston up to Coleberg
Swing boys swing, together rise and fall
Then the Lindsey line far out to Mariposa
Timber, pork and beans, bound for Montreal
Chorus
And we sweat dawn to dusk, in every kind of weather
Swing boys swing, together rise and fall
Sun so blisterin' hot, your skin was turned to leather
Wind and rain so hard, at times we had to crawl
Chorus
Sure there're some who shirk and groan at the life here in the shanties
Swing boys swing, together rise and fall
Gent's who pine and moan for the comforts of the fancy
Not to keen of gruel or gearing up to brawl
chorus
Ah but winter's coming nigh, respite we will savor
Swing boys swing, together rise and fall
but come first breathe of spring ill return to sell my labor
ringing thru the woods, you'll hear us young men bawl
chorus
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Lyrics submitted by Stuart.