An American Draft Dodger In Thunder Bay

He was born in a small town

And he was give every reason to stay

Hallelujah, Mississippi, postcard living no sign of decay

Till Vietnam moved next door, then Hallelujah was off to war

In the dream he couldn't finish the deed

He didn't smoke any weed so why leave?

Going where I can't be found

And I won't be coming 'round

His father Tom said you better sign on

You'd better take up your gun and fight

I got nothing against them Viet Cong

What did they do so wrong and why am I right?

He's on his way to Thunder Bay

Crossed the border late at night

And it was high stakes until he saw the Great Lakes

And he felt the cold wind bite

Going where I can't be found

And I won't be coming 'round

No, I'm an American on the Canadian Shield

And I'm putting down roots in your frozen fields

It gets cold but you feel so good to be a stranger in town

And you're understood

Missing his home, he would wake up in a cold sweat

And pick up the phone and hope that Tom found a way to forget

He's been teaching at the high school, learning the game

In Thunder Bay we're all the same

He's one of us, he has our trust

But there's no going back once the line is crossed

I'm an American on the Canadian Shield

And I'm putting down roots in your frozen fields

It gets cold but you feel so good to be a stranger in town

And you're understood

You can't ask what you're asking me to do

And I hope you understand when I refuse

I'm going North with my point of view

And I'm never gonna think the same as you

And I'm where I can't be found

And I won't be coming 'round

No, I'm an American on the Canadian Shield

And I'm putting down roots in your frozen fields

It gets cold but you feel so good to be a stranger in town

And you're understood