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“North Bound”
Outside Ft. McMurray I learned to throw the chain
Old men missin’ fingers drank to kill the pain.
I came for more than dollars but the dollars helped me stay.
One day an offer came, I got on a plane.
It was windy on the North Sea, then the wells ran dry.
So I went down to Maracaibo, beneath the burning sky
Did some time in Saudi, waiting on the rain
Christmas in Samatlor, Northern Lights again.
Everything will change. Nothing remains the same.
For opportunity we all pay.
Ghosts ran through Angola, the scars of mines and wars
Rolling Gippsland Basin, I came back to shore.
Marlim, Reconcavo — got sick and missed my pay
I got a call from Horseshoe — I said I was OK.
Some look for something better, some are running from the past
Not much in my suitcase ‘cept memories built to last
Blow in Cuisiana, bought love in Canterell
Read a little Thompson and I came back to the well.
Everything will change. Nothing remains the same.
For opportunity we all pay.
This is my theory of everything.
I was seventeen in a bony two light town
Almost everyday the rail cars shook the ground.
Summer was just ending and the sky was edged in brown
Some boys I knew from school were northbound.
© Gerry Wall | Canada | www.gerrywall.com