The Idiot

Stan Rogers - "The Idiot"

I often take these night shift walks when the foreman's not around.
I turn my back on the cooling stacks and make for open ground.
Far out beyond the tank farm fence where the gas flare makes no sound,
I forget the stink and I always think back to that Eastern town.

I remember back six years ago, this Western life I chose.
And every day, the news would say some factory's going to close.
Well, I could have stayed to take the Dole, but I'm not one of those.
I take nothing free, and that makes me an idiot, I suppose.

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 don't like cowboy clothes;
But I like being free and that makes me an idiot I suppose.

So come all you fine young fellows who've been beaten to the ground.
This western life's no paaradise, but it's better than lying down.
Oh, the streets aren't clean, and there's nothing green, and the hills are dirty brown,
But the government Dole will rot your soul back there in your home town.

So bid farewell to the Eastern town you never more will see.
There's self-respect and a steady cheque in this refinery.
You will miss the green and the woods and streams and the dust will fill your nose.
But you'll be free, and just like me, an idiot, I suppose.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Stan
• Rogers
• The
• Idiot
• Syncrude
• Fort
• McMurray
• Oil
• Pollution
• Smog
• Refinery
• Power
• Plant
• Steam
• Pipes
• Pipe

[ks610]

Question : Whats the Capital of newfoundland...

Answer: Fort Mac

[Gubru]

@ks610

Lol! Too true, too true.

[cheezeburgereddy]

thank you for posting this video

[Gubru]

@cheezeburgereddy

You're very welcome!

[Iwasateeninthe80s]

This song always reminds me of my dad. He was from Yarmouth and left it all behind to seek a new life in the west. "Oh, I miss the green and the woods and streams and I don't like cowboy clothes"--yep, that's my dad. Decades away from the water but take him to the ocean and he could still swim, row, and fish with the best of them.Thanks for posting.

[stano5]

If Stan was here he'd smack you, mr conservative douche. Respect the man's music please, and quit making our country look bad.

[jenkmasterflex]

WHO DISLIKES STAN ROGERS!?

[fiercebrett]

hate to justify these comments with a response, but making a gross generalization about a country with over 300 million people is just about as dumb as starting a political flame war on a stan rogers video, i agree with carolina10097, shut up and enjoy the music

[jkjkjkish]

if rightwingcon81 is that hostile in simple youtube comments he deserves to be an american. i am so fucking proud to be canadian and i love my country and i love stan rogers i have family in cape breton i'd love to go visit nova scotia.

[ThePoluke]

@RightWingCon81

I remember when the debt ceiling meant that the American dream was based off of absolutely nothing.

Do you remember that?

DEBT= WORK YOU HAVE NOT DONE YET

[ThePoluke]

well I dunno anything about all this America vrs Canada crap but all I know is ALBERTA IS AWESOME RIGHT NOW

GET R DONE STAN ROGERS!

[lukuleleLOL]

boo

[Str8UpPrime]

Awesome song. I actually like this live version more than the studio version. the drums in the other version kind of ruin it for me.

[bonono12646]

@ks610 i think thats the capitol of atlantic canada haaha

[vatti902]

whats the oldest joke in canada? the top one :)