[Verse 1] I often take these night shift walks When the foremans not around I turn my back on the cooling stacks And make for open ground Far out beyond the tankfarm fence Where the gas flare makes no sound I forget the stink and I always think Back to that Eastern town [Verse 2] I remember back six years ago This western life I chose And every day the news would say Some factorys going to close Well, I could have stayed to take the dole But Im not one of those [Refrain] I take nothing free, and that makes me An idiot, I suppose [Verse 3] So I bid farewell to the Eastern town I never more will see But work I must so I eat this dust And breathe refinery Oh I miss the green and the woods and streams And I dont like cowboy clothes [Refrain] But I like being free, and that makes me An idiot, I suppose [Verse 4] So come all you fine young fellows Whove been beaten to the ground This western lifes no paradise But its better than lying down Oh the streets arent clean, and theres nothing green And the hills are dirty brown But the government dole will rot your soul Back there in your home town [Verse 5] So bid farewell to the Eastern town You never more will see Theres selfrespect and a steady cheque In this refinery You will miss the green and the woods and streams And the dust will fill your nose [Refrain] But youll be free, and that makes me An idiot, I suppose
idiot, eastern, refinery, dole, suppose