Men of Iron (Tribute to the Chinese Railroad Worker)

An original song writen by Black Irish Band member Patrick Michael Karnahan in honor of the Chinese Americans that built the Central Pacific Railroad.

Band member James Nelson sings lead on this ballad based on the struggle to build a railroad over the mighty Sierra Nevada Mountains. Historians state that a Chinese worker died for every mile that was built.

Patrick wrote this song because the Chinese have been overlooked for the part they played in the American West.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• blackirishband
• chineseamericans
• chineserailroadworkers
• railroadhistory
• chinesehistory
• worksongs
• railroadfolksongs

[trainfire28]

I do know that the Irish in fact worked on the railroad for their names were logged down for payment on the Central Pacific and Union Pacific. The day that the Central Pacific laid 10 miles in a day, and broke the record for track, the lead spike men were hand picked Irish workers. It's not fair to re-write history on the backs of those that lived it!

[PoetryETrain]

Thank you, this has been added to our playlists...

[SummitsToSeas]

You saved our project, kind sir. Only video with chinese immigrants on youtube

[cillianmccolgan]

I worked on a rail project in Queensland in australia. It was always said that we were working "for the railway". The railway has a special place in human sentiment, its a thing that has to be done. Its typified by such histories. Its shocking what happened in the past. Credit is due. But ponder the significagence of the vernacular. "working for the railway" vital, needed and relevant

[0ct0ct09]

@PurposeOnEarth That was the way it was back in the old days. Racism and prejudice was the norm. Alot of people don`t know that the chinese had helped in building the railway in the U.S and in Canada. They were pay less than the whites for doing the same job. There was no equality back in the old days. Thanks god we have left the stone age behind,

[SxAsianPridexS]

Song called?

[PurposeOnEarth]

You would think that they have the pictures of the Chinese Men in the train stations- its all white rich people.

[jackandjohn777]

Great video/song to be played when teaching students about the western expansion of railroads.............great stuff.......thanks.