The Hardest Mile

F C F C F C G x2 C F i’m heading for a life in the land of the free C G sending every penny home to the family C F off to find fortunes that can’t be bought G now paddy’s struck down from a single shot G paddy’s struck down from a single shot! F C F C F C G they lured the men away they promised wealth and riches a thousand miles from home lying steel and digging ditches the work would be a challenge nary a soul could stand the trial these wayfaring boys built the railways toughest mile fifty - seven men on the hardest mile! ( Chorus ) C F fifty - seven men on the hardest mile C G murdered for their troubles , left to die C F immigrant sons from donegal , tyrone & derry G their numbers were few but they did the job of many F C F C F C G eight weeks went by and the path was clear fifty - seven men had all disappeared not a mention of their name no stone was ever turned it would be so many years before the truth was ever learned ( Chorus ) fifty - seven men on the hardest mile murdered for their troubles , left to die immigrant sons from donegal , tyrone & derry their numbers were few but they did the job of many F C F C F C G F F C G x2 F C G now ghosts dance a jig on an unmarked grave F C G a slug full of lead was the price they were paid F C G vigilante justice , prejudice and pride G no one in this valley will be seen again alive ( Chorus ) x2 fifty - seven men on the hardest mile murdered for their troubles , left to die immigrant sons from donegal , tyrone & derry their numbers were few but they did the job of many