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