All day, every day
I swing my hammer to the metal on the northern railway
always a movie playing in my head
a million moves starring you and me

Moonshine everynight
eating supper by the fire out in the clear moonlight
ankles crossed, hands behind my head
telling stories singin songs about the west

I'm always thinking of you
staring off down the railroad line
one sweet day
I will see you
but I'll swing the hammer until
the empire builder brings me home

Two months and two hard weeks
sometimes days go by in which nobody speaks
Illinois, Washington, there ain't nothing but the hammer to the rail
one day when this track runs through
I'm gonna buy a new suit and come looking for you
carefree you and me we'll take an empire builder to the sea

I'm always thinking of you
staring off down the railroad line
one sweet day
I will see you
but I'll swing the hammer until
the empire builder brings me home