[Intro Blues harmonica over vinyl crackle] [Verse 1: Rapper Voice 1] Thirty thousand miles back in eighteen sixty Almost matched the whole world moving real swiftly By nineteen hundred one ninety three Thousand miles of track built the new economy Eleven miles daily workers laid that line From eighteen seventy through nineteen sixteen time Immigrants working with the sun on their back Work songs rising while they hammered that track Small lines folded when the big lines grew Buy out the rivals or run right through That is consolidation power combined Standard price standard process bottom line Efficiency rose but the warning was clear A handful of bosses could control the whole gear [Chorus: Blues Singer Voice 2] Steel made the map let the whole thing roll Coal in the furnace big dreams in tow East to the West hear the train track snap Barons got the money and the steel made the map Steel made the map let the whole thing roll Redballs towin' freight, powered by coal Cities got bigger while the small towns tapped Barons got the money and the steel made the map [Verse 2: Rapper Voice 1] Vanderbilt ran it from New York streets Up to the Great Lakes laying down beats Cornelius built him a railroad throne Traffic and tracks under one name owned James J Hill took the Great Northern west Minnesota to Washington building his best Huntington Stanford joined that race Central Pacific put the West in place California Utah connected by rail Part of the first coast crossing trail Competition heavy and the laws stayed light Every railroad baron wanted more in sight Big names moving like kings on the board Control every route and collect every score [Chorus: Blues Singer Voice 2] Steel made the map let the whole thing roll Coal in the furnace big dreams in tow East to the West hear the train track snap Barons got the money and the steel made the map Steel made the map let the whole thing roll Redballs towin' freight, powered by coal Cities got bigger while the small towns tapped Barons got the money and the steel made the map [Verse 3: Rapper Voice 1] Iron ore, coal, timber rode to the mill Factory goods rolled out fresh off the drill Crops left farms for the markets downtown Railroad jobs brought thousands around Iron tracks shifted when steel took charge Stronger new rails made the steel mills large Lumber made ties while the coal made steam One industry feeding the industrial machine Different gauge tracks made the whole run slow Unload that freight then reload to go Four feet eight and a half set the scale Standard gauge opened one national rail Shipping got quicker and the cost came down Now one set of wheels could keep rolling through town [Bridge: Blues Singer Voice 2] Westinghouse brakes made the stopping more sound Janney couplers linked every car rolling out Swift kept the meat and the crops ice cold Pullman made beds for the long night road Safer and faster with a nation connected New innovation kept the railroad perfected [Verse 4: Rapper Voice 1] Big customers came and got rebates cheap Small farms paid while the barons ran deep Little railroads could not match that rate Forced from the field by the powerful great Secret pools made the business divide Same high prices with competition denied Rules were around but the rules had no bite Higher rates turned into profits each night Still those trains pushed industry west Illinois Wisconsin became farm tool best Homesteaders, merchants, miners came through Country met city as the rail network grew America changed every place on the map Progress had power and a price on the track [Final Chorus: Blues Singer Voice 2] Steel made the map let the whole thing roll Coal in the furnace big dreams in tow East to the West hear the train track snap Barons got the money and the steel made the map Steel made the map let the whole thing roll Redballs towin' freight, powered by coal Cities got bigger while the small towns tapped Barons got the money and the steel made the map [Outro Harmonica fades over train sounds]
