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 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 till 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