He was born in a small town
 And he was given every reason to stay
 Hallelujah, Mississippi, postcard living no sign of decay
 'Til 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 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 Sheild
 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