Lyr ADD: A Very Nice Country (Oscar Brand?)

Subject: Lyr Req: A very nice country
From: GUEST,Martin
Date: 16 May 04 - 03:59 PM

It is some time I came across a really heart-tearing song, in which -in the years of the Vietnam war - a draft dodger/deserter from the U.S. army sums up his life. Sung by Oscar Brand that time, I hope the original title is "A very nice country" (i.e. Canada, where the hero of the song was forced to stay), but it can have various other titles. I didn´t find the song in the DT. Can anyone help me with the lyrics?
Thank you a lot,
Martin

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: A very nice country
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 17 May 04 - 11:28 PM

I can find evidence of only one recording of A VERY NICE COUNTRY – it was by Oscar Brand & The Secret Band on their album "American Dreamer," Biograph LP BP-12067, 1985.

The album can still be bought from Oscar Brand's web site.

Alas, I didn't find any lyrics or sound samples.

Subject: Lyr Add: A VERY NICE COUNTRY (Oscar Brand)
From: oldhippie
Date: 16 Dec 06 - 10:21 AM

A VERY NICE COUNTRY
(Oscar Brand)

I was born in Philadelphia
Not too far from Rittenhouse Square
Maybe you pass by that place sometimes
My family still lives there
But please don't ask them about me
Especially not my Dad
As far as he's concerned
I'm just another bit of
good luck that went bad

And, so, I'm living up here in Canada
Living here all alone
A very nice country
But not my own

Funny thing about the people here
They're just like the people back home
And the buildings look a lot alike
Not much of that New York tone
The streets are a little bit cleaner
And every one has its sign
Printed very neatly
Half a million streets
Not one of them mine

I'm still living up here in Canada
Living here all alone
A very nice country
But not my own

I've been writing lots of letters home
I get answers once in awhile
They say things like
Please don't catch a cold
Well, that always makes me smile
But they never mention my brother
Or what he intends to be
I guess they're all afraid
If we got too friendly
He'd turn out like me

So, I'm living up here in Canada
Living here all alone
A very nice country
But not my own

Funny thing the war is over now
They're not making anyone go
Seems like they just got tired of it
They used to love it so
You'd think they'd say we're sorry now
And maybe you were right
But they won't let us back
They say it isn't fair
To the kids they forced to fight

Meanwhile, I'm living up here in Canada
Living here all alone
A very nice country
But not my own

There are lots of others living here
Twenty, thirty thousand or so
Some of them say they'd much rather stay
But I sure would like to go
And now they're talking the draft again
And resuming nuclear tests
I'll find some empty spots
Set up folding cots
Cause I'm expecting lots more guests

Meanwhile, I'm living up here in Canada
Living here all alone
A very nice country
But not my own

A very nice country
But not my own

Subject: RE: Req/ADD: A Very Nice Country (Oscar Brand?)
From: GUEST,romanthunder
Date: 02 Aug 10 - 11:52 AM

This song was also on a compilation album from Broadside (I think) called "What now People?". Some of the other songs on the album were "How about you?" by Pete Seeger and "Inez" by Beverly Grant and the Human Condition.