The Contractor Song

I left my home on the salt east coast when the job market gave up the ghost
I got some work up in Ottawa drawing boats with the navy folks
That burned out and I did too California seemed the thing to do
Me and Ray hopped in his car and we headed down south dreaming
Dreaming about Babes on Waves

When we got down there the sun was hot the sky was blue and I was not
Once again I was doing my thing drawing boats and trying to sing
But every day that came and went got me concerned at how my time was spent
I could take the heat and sand but I longed to see Newfoundland
Longed to taste Fish 'n Chips

Hey Jim, life is grim, living on the Pacific Rim
Volcanos heave up their guts from Anchorage to the Philippine huts
You see with me it's either feast or famine
One minute I'm crying the next I'm laughing
And I don't care if the earth should quake as long as I can make my escape
Long as I skedaddle

I finally got tired of laying around and hanging out in bars and painting the town
An agent called me with his song of wind would I like to work back east again
It seemed New Brunswick was the Promised Land with lots of fun and cash on hand
But working there got to be a drag because my lungs would ache with every breath I'd take
It poured out thick in Big Smelly I felt sick in Big Smelly

Don't get me wrong or mistake this song the west ain't bad it's just not home
And I'm no dog that can't do tricks I even learned to eat with sticks
Chinese food and Taiwan clothes Japanese lumber boats
Roots and shoots from the orient and we're playing games in the market place
Say can you name that vegetable
Say can you name that vegetable