An American Draft Dodger In Thunder Bay - Sam Roberts

He was born in a small town 
And he was given 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 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 a 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 a 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 a town and you're understood