Were the gang
Who lay the sleepers down
As we run these rails
From town to town
The railway boss he owns our souls
And our hearts run
On steam and coal
Our hearts run
On steam and coal
With hammers and with picks
We greet the dawn
And take the line
The gaffers drawn
Calling names he takes the roll
Of hearts that run
On steam and coal
Hearts that run
On steam and coal
Many’s the girl
That I’ve let down
Running these rails
From town to town
And I know that I’ll be lonely
When I’m old
‘Cos my heart runs
On steam and coal
My heart runs
On steam and coal
I long to be
That engineer
Ride that train
From there to here
I’m stuck here digging
This damn hole
‘Cos my heart runs
On steam and coal
My heart runs
On steam and coal