They Came From Distant Places

They came from distant places to this far southern shore The men who built the city at rest forever more Some of them could not speak the language but they were strong and young And they were willing workers and their praises ought be sung The men who built the city their grandchildren old today They worked hard to support their wives and families from their old homeland far away They built the factories, homes and railways and they worked hard for their pay The men who built the city for years with Nature lay No monument built to them no last post for them played For the men who built the city there was never a parade Only their direct descendants would have heard of them by name To be honest and hard working is never a claim to fame The men who built the city their praises remain unsung And today their grandchildren are not what one would call young.