Autonomous

I used to be a farmer and I made a living fine

I had a little stretch of land along the C.P. line

But times were hard, and though I tried, the money wasn’t there

And bankers came and took my land, and told me “fair is fair.”

I looked for every kind of job, the answer always no

“Hire you now?” they’d always laugh. “We just let twenty go!”

The government they promised me a measly little sum

But I’ve got too much pride to end up just another bum.

Then I thought, who gives a damn if all the jobs are gone,

I’m gonna be a pirate on the river Saskatchewan.

’Cause it’s a heave-ho, high-ho, coming down the Plains

Stealing wheat and barley and all the other grains

And it’s a ho-hey, high-hey, farmers bar your doors

When you see the Jolly Roger on Regina’s mighty shores.

You’d think the local farmers would know that I’m at large

But just the other day I saw an unsuspecting barge

I snuck up right behind them and they were none the wiser

I rammed their ship and sank it, and I stole their fertilizer.

A bridge outside of Moose Jaw spans a mighty river

Farmers cross in so much fear their stomachs are a-quiver

’Cause they know that Tractor Jack is hiding in the bay,

I’ll jump the bridge and knock them cold and sail off with their hay.