G Am D Em
Where Patterson Creek's muddy waters run down
C G Am D
Past the penny arcades, by the harbour downtown,
Em Am D Em
All the old Turtlebacks rust in the rain
C D G
Like they never will leave there again.
G Am D Em
But leave there they will in the hours before dawn,
C G Am D
Slip out in the darkness without word or song;
Em Am D Em
For a few more years yet they will work while they can
C D G
To catch tiny fish for Japan.
D C G
No white fish or trout here, we leave them alone.
C G Am D
The inspectors raise hell if we take any home.
D C G
What kind of fisherman can't eat his catch
Em A7 D
Or call what he's taken his own?
G Am D Em
But the plant works three shifts now. There's plenty of pay.
C G Am D
We ship seventeen tons of this garbage each day.
Em Am D Em
If we want to eat fish, then we'll open a can,
C D G
And catch tiny fish for Japan.
D C G
In the Norfolk Hotel over far too much beer,
C G Am D
The old guys remember when the water ran clear.
D C G
No poisons with names that we can't understand
Em A7 D
And no tiny fish for Japan
G Am D Em
So the days run together. Each one is the same.
C G Am D
And it's good that the smelt have no lovelier name.
Em Am D Em
For it's all just a job now, we'll work while we can,
C D G
To catch tiny fish for Japan.
C D G
And we'll catch tiny fish for Japan.
