Released: October 28, 1991
Songwriter: Phil Collins Mike Rutherford Tony Banks
Producer: Nick Davis Genesis
Leaving my family behind me
Not knowing what lay ahead
Waving goodbye, as I left them in tears
Remembering all we'd said
I looked to the sky, I offered my prayers
I asked Him for guidance and strength
But the simple beliefs of a simple man
Lay in His hands, and on my head (my head)
I gave everything that they wanted
But still they wanted more
We sweat and we toiled
Good men lost their lives
I don't think they knew what for
I sold them my heart
I sold them my soul
I gave everything I had
Ah, but they couldn't break my spirit
My dignity fought back
(fight back)
(just fight back)
Ah, can you hear me?
Can you see?
Don't you hear me?
Don't you see?
We worked in gangs for all we were worth
The young boys pulling the wagons
We were digging the tunnel, shifting the earth
It was then that it happened
No one knew how the cracks appeared
But as it fell they all disappeared
Stone fell like rain
Ah, can an you hear me?
Can you see?
Don't you hear me?
(Can) Can you breathe?
The smoke cleared, the dust it settled
No one knew how many had died
All around there were broken men
They'd said it was safe, they'd lied
You could hear the cries, you could smell our fear
But good fortune that day was mine
And it occurred to me that the heart of a good man-
It seems is hard to find
Ah, can you hear me?
Can you see?
(Don't) Don't you hear me?
(Don't) Don't you see?
We worked, how we worked like
The devil for our pay
Through the wind, through the snow
And through the rain
Blasting, cutting through God's country like a knife
With sweat stinging my eyes, there has to be a better life
But I can hear my childrens' cry
I can see the tears in their eyes
Memories of those I've left behind
Still ringing in my ears
Will I ever go back again?
Will I ever see her face again?
Cause I'll always remember the night-
As they waved goodbye to their fathers
We came from the North
We came from the South
With picks and with spades
And a new kind of order
Showing no fear of what lies up ahead
They'll never see the likes of us again
Driving the last spike
Lifting and laying the track
With blistering hands
The sun burning your back
But I can hear my childrens' cry
I can see the tears in their eyes
Oh the memories of those I've lft behind
They're still ringing in my ears
Well I'll always remember that night
As they waved goodbye to their fathers
We followed the rail, we slept under the stars
Digging in darkness, and living with danger
Showing no fear of what lies up ahead
They'll never see the likes of us again
Ah, can you hear me?
Can you see?
(Don't) Don't you hear me?
(Don't) Don't you see?
Not knowing what lay ahead
Waving goodbye, as I left them in tears
Remembering all we'd said
I looked to the sky, I offered my prayers
I asked Him for guidance and strength
But the simple beliefs of a simple man
Lay in His hands, and on my head (my head)
I gave everything that they wanted
But still they wanted more
We sweat and we toiled
Good men lost their lives
I don't think they knew what for
I sold them my heart
I sold them my soul
I gave everything I had
Ah, but they couldn't break my spirit
My dignity fought back
(fight back)
(just fight back)
Ah, can you hear me?
Can you see?
Don't you hear me?
Don't you see?
We worked in gangs for all we were worth
The young boys pulling the wagons
We were digging the tunnel, shifting the earth
It was then that it happened
No one knew how the cracks appeared
But as it fell they all disappeared
Stone fell like rain
Ah, can an you hear me?
Can you see?
Don't you hear me?
(Can) Can you breathe?
The smoke cleared, the dust it settled
No one knew how many had died
All around there were broken men
They'd said it was safe, they'd lied
You could hear the cries, you could smell our fear
But good fortune that day was mine
And it occurred to me that the heart of a good man-
It seems is hard to find
Ah, can you hear me?
Can you see?
(Don't) Don't you hear me?
(Don't) Don't you see?
We worked, how we worked like
The devil for our pay
Through the wind, through the snow
And through the rain
Blasting, cutting through God's country like a knife
With sweat stinging my eyes, there has to be a better life
But I can hear my childrens' cry
I can see the tears in their eyes
Memories of those I've left behind
Still ringing in my ears
Will I ever go back again?
Will I ever see her face again?
Cause I'll always remember the night-
As they waved goodbye to their fathers
We came from the North
We came from the South
With picks and with spades
And a new kind of order
Showing no fear of what lies up ahead
They'll never see the likes of us again
Driving the last spike
Lifting and laying the track
With blistering hands
The sun burning your back
But I can hear my childrens' cry
I can see the tears in their eyes
Oh the memories of those I've lft behind
They're still ringing in my ears
Well I'll always remember that night
As they waved goodbye to their fathers
We followed the rail, we slept under the stars
Digging in darkness, and living with danger
Showing no fear of what lies up ahead
They'll never see the likes of us again
Ah, can you hear me?
Can you see?
(Don't) Don't you hear me?
(Don't) Don't you see?
more tracks from the album
From the album
- We Can’t Dance (1991)
Genesis popular songs
- That’s All
- Land of Confusion
- Supper’s Ready
- Dancing with the Moonlit Knight
- I Know What I Like (In Your Wardrobe)
- Mama
- Invisible Touch
- I Can’t Dance
- The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway
- Carpet Crawlers
- Jesus He Knows Me
- Firth of Fifth
- In Too Deep
- Follow You Follow Me
- The Cinema Show
- In the Cage
- The Battle of Epping Forest
- Fly on a Windshield
- The Musical Box
- Ripples
- Watcher of the Skies
- No Son of Mine
- A Trick of the Tail
- Back in N.Y.C.