I often take these night shift walks when the foreman's not around

夜班当工头不在的时候我经常去散步

I turn my back on the cooling stacks and make for open ground

我背对冷却塔然后走向开阔的场地

Far out beyond the tank farm fence where the gas flare makes no sound

远离油库的围墙当汽油无声的燃烧时

I forget the stink and I always think back to that Eastern town

我遗忘了臭味并且总是想回到东部的小镇

I remember back six years ago, this Western life I chose

我仍记得六年前，我选择了去西部生活

And every day, the news would say some factory's going to close

每天新闻都在说一些工厂将要关闭了

Well, I could have stayed to take the Dole, but I'm not one of those

我本可以留下拿到救济金，但是我不是那种人

I take nothing free, and that makes me an idiot, I suppose

我不拿免费的东西，这让我看起来像一个白痴

So I bid farewell to the Eastern town I never more will see

所以我告别了东部的小镇，我再也见不到它了

But work I must so I eat this dust and breathe refinery

工作使我不得不吞咽灰尘和呼吸着精炼厂的废气

Oh, I miss the green and the woods and streams and I don't like cowboy clothes

我想念家乡的绿水青山并且我不喜欢牛仔工装

But I like being free and that makes me an idiot I suppose

我渴望自由这使我更像一个白痴

So come all you fine young fellows who've been beaten to the ground

年轻的棒小伙来了都变得筋疲力竭

This western life's no paaradise, but it's better than lying down

这种西部的生活不是天堂，但是比在家里躺着好

Oh, the streets aren't clean, and there's nothing green, and the hills are dirty brown

这里的街道不干净也没有绿植，就连山丘也是肮脏的棕色

But the government Dole will rot your soul back there in your home town

但是比在家乡领着救济金让你的灵魂慢慢腐朽要好

So bid farewell to the Eastern town you never more will see

告别东部的小镇，永别吧

There's self-respect and a steady cheque in this refinery

在这个精炼厂能收获自尊和稳定的收入

You will miss the green and the woods and streams and the dust will fill your nose

你会回想起家乡的绿水青山并且灰尘会填满你的鼻子

But you'll be free, and just like me, an idiot, I suppose

但是你会和我一样坦然，成为一个白痴

These are the words I tell myself

这些是我告诉自己的话

When I miss my own hometown

当我想起我自己的家乡时

I tell myself that I'm doing right by turning that welfare down

我告诉自己拒领救济金是正确的

But now I see for you and me

但是现在对你我来说

That I want those woods and streams

都希望住在青山绿水旁

For I owe my life to this workers strife

但是我现在的生活都归功于这场工人运动

Why can't just be free

这就是为什么不能松懈