7. Oyster Lease

My name is William John McBride
I work the Oyster Lease tonight
Oyster shells like razor blades
Cut my hands, I bleed in shades of
Red and White
Red and White

My name is William John McBride
I drive the rocky beach tonight
Starfish, gruntfish, pale moon snails
A thump of Oysters tossed in pails of
Red and White
Red and White

My name is William John McBride
My boots fill up with water ice
Blue Heron croaks and leaps from the rock
Flies above the Ferry Dock
Red and White
Red and White

My name is William John McBride
Oyster shucked since I was knee high
Dad bought the Lease to earn some bucks
For a case of Rum and a Pickup truck
Red and White
Red and White

My name is William John McBride
The last of my genetic line
I’m bent and tired, and the nights too cold
Headlamps broke and the bulbs too old
Red and White
Red and White

My name is William John McBride
I’ve seen too many stormy tides
The seas too warm for the Oyster set
The shells all chip like plastic bits
Red and White
Red and White

My name is William John McBride
This is the last of my working nights
Sold the Lease to Lu Quang Vinh
His family now they all pitch in
Red and White
Red and White

My name is William John McBride
I will not work the Lease tonight
No Oyster shells like razor blades
No cuts to my hands no blood in shades of
Red and White
Red and White