© David W. Watts
When we set out on our national dream
Not knowing what we’d pay
Sir John made the contract perfectly clear:
“Canadian all the way”
For some that meant the bosses must
Be Brits right down the hall
But a capital find came from south of the line—
The best one of them all.
O William Cornelius Van Horne: with you we won the day:
Drove through the line, and did it on time—well done in every way.
Will went to work when his father died
Once day he chanced to see
A railroad czar in his private car
And said “That’s the job for me!”
He learned the railroad inside out:
Each tool and trade explored
At twenty-eight he was Superintendent—
The youngest in the world.
Will Cornelius came north to build
The longest railway line
Sidelining those with conflict of interest
South of Forty-Nine.
The Dominion of Canada built its way
On the path of the CPR
Five hundred miles a year, and twenty a day
Dispatched from his railway car.
(refrain)
He’d show up out of nowhere in his private car
Roll up his sleeves and then
Place timbers and stones with his own two hands
And rally the working men
He’d join them at poker for hours on end
With a science, played to win
When they went to bed, he’d refresh with an air
Playing his violin.
O William Cornelius Van Horne: you showed us how to play…
Drove through the line, and did it on time–well done in every way.
He told speculators betting on stations:
“Don’t put me to the test”
When Calgary bet near St. George’s Island—
He moved it one mile west
Port Moody said “We’ve got it in the bag
As the terminal on the sea”
But Van Horne pushed on to Gastown and said
“Vancouver it will be.”
(refrain)
He ran an empire with an even hand
On the front or Montreal
From trout on a menu to fossils in rock
No matter was too small
Cities, towns, careers and fortunes
Moved at his command
And the height of his art was to say it in words
That all could understand.
When Donald Smith drove the Last Spike home
On his second try
Calls of “Speech” went up from the crowd
Of workers standing by
Van Horne was there to oversee
As the lines were finally joined
And the fifteen words he spoke that day
Were brief and to the point:
“All I can say is that the work has been well done, in every way.”
(refrain)
William Van Horne came here on a job
And made up his mind to stay
Passing up offers with five figures
Back in the U.S.A.
Some Canadians followed fortunes south
Or titles across the sea—
Van Horne showed home isn’t birth but commitment:
Where we choose to be.
O William Cornelius Van Horne: we’re glad you chose to stay
Drove through the line, and did it on time—well done in every way.