Canning Salmon
by Linda Chobotuck (c) 1985

The guys on the dock ________ around, _____________ the forklift

and __________ the floor lady till it's _______________ for their tea

They sit at the _____________ by the window that _____________

and they get paid a _____________________ more an hour than me

CHORUS:

High is the ____________, low _____________________ the pay

long are the ___________, why do ____________________ stay?

Somewhere ____________ a ______________ summer slips away

while we're stuck in ________________________ canning salmon

The ____________ so loud that we say __________ gone can-deaf

[The] shift is ___________ over before we can ________________

They keep the noise ______________ just under the ____________

So they don't have to buy us the _________ _______________ gear

CHORUS

First we ___________ spring so ____________ our arms ________

Then we do sockeye ___________ we pack ______________ ease

Then we _____________ pinks, ___________ mashed up and rotten

So _____________ packed up in pound tins and _________ overseas

CHORUS

Last night we were ___________ for a ______________ on the Fraser

So they ___________ us on line, _________________ standing around

We _______________ know that ___________________ on the river

the boat had _________________ over, two men had _____________

CHORUS:

_________________ is the cost, ____________________ is the pay

long ______________ the _____________, why _______we ______?

______________ outside ___________ whole ______slips ________

____________ we're ____________ in here _________ __________