Roaring Jack - A Stranger And A Friend lyrics

The creeks are frozen over now The winter takes its toll On the farmer and the dreamer On the destitute and old I'm sitting by this lamplight With heavy heart and pen There were no sad partings No tears goodbye You didn't stop to look at me I didn't wonder why They dressed you up in green and grey And pushed you to the end Now I'm writing you this letter As a stranger and a friend And when your flag is all unfurled And flying free again Ah come home Not as a stranger as a friend Now you're in a distant land A land of sweat and fear You're frightened by the border guards By every noise you hear With polished gun and bayonet Whose pride do you defend? Now I'm writing you this letter As a stranger and a friend The nights are so much blacker now You're looking at the sky You drank your fill, you spat it out Your talk is full of lies I'll wait until this river flows I'll meet you at the bend Now I'm writing you this letter As a stranger and a friend And when your flag is all unfurled And flying free again Ah come home Not as a stranger as a friend