Some of Robbie Burn's stuff is pretty angry sounding; Parcel of Rogues, for example. I was inspired by that song as a Canadian to write a Canadian version of it. At the risk of offending some of my American folkie counterparts, I'll share it with you. (It is definitely an anger song from a Canadian perspective, written during the time when our Prime Minister was Brian Mulroney.)

FAREWELL TO CANADA

Copyright 1991 by Moira Cameron
(Based on Parcel of Rogues, by Robert Burns.)

Farewell to all our Canadian fame
Farewell to our past glories.
Farewell even to our Canadian name
So rich in diverse history.
For now our culture is fading away
By the pull of southern temptation--
Our Prime Minister is swayed by the American way...
What a parcel of rogues in a nation!

What has happened to our Canadian pride
In ourselves and our uniqueness?
When we fought against the American tide,
Common wills betrayed no weakness.
But now our leaders openly invite
American infiltration--
They sacrificed our country and gave up our fight...
What a parcel of rogues in a nation!

I never would have thought I would see the day
When treason thus would sell us;
And will we simply watch as dreams slip away
Accepting what our leaders tell us?
Well, with all of my power and 'til my last hour
I will make this declaration:
We are bought and sold for American gold...
What a parcel of rogues in a nation!

HTML line breaks added. -JoeClone, 26-Jul-01.