John Oaks - Neil Young

Written by：Neil Young

John Oaks is in the neighborhood

Protecting all the trees

He's the master of irrigation

And he knows what he sees

Great farmers watering everywhere

Pipes running where they please

John sees his laws are broken

Tree's drowning where they breathe

Now John used to be a mellow man

Drinking chai and smoking w**d

Ain't no one in the country

Ever seen what he's seen

John Oaks

John Oaks

John Oaks

John Oaks

Old John rides in his pickup

With rakes and his friends in the back

Workers he takes with him

Then he drives them all back

To protect them from the politicians

Using them to get ahead

Preying on the people

Trying to get inside their head

John Oaks is really stand up

He won't take sh*t lying down

He calls it like he sees it

Then he puts his money down

John Oaks

John Oaks

John Oaks

John Oaks

One day at the demonstration

John Oaks was standing up

He arrived there at the location

In his old pickup truck

Took a rake in his hand

With his workers by his side

Stood their waiting for his turn

To speak and turn the tide

When he found himself surrounded

By police everywhere

They tried to take his workers to jail

When he grabbed one by his hair

John Oaks

John Oaks

John Oaks

John Oaks

Shots rang out and people yelled

As the police took control

Shot a black man right where he fell

With a sniper on the knoll

John Oaks saw law and order

Was leading him astray

Tried to get back in his pickup

With his workers to get away

That's when the police moved in

And stood there in his way

John started up his pickup

And that was his last day

John Oaks

John Oaks

John Oaks

John Oaks

They said he had pistol

When the old pickup backfired

They shot John there behind he wheel

And then John Oaks expired

The workers grabbed the rakes

And that's all that I can say

They went to the cemetery

And they stay there to this day

John Oaks

John Oaks

John Oaks

John Oaks

John Oaks

John Oaks

John Oaks

John Oaks

John Oaks