Selected Songs

Louis Riel

It was out in Manitoba that Louis Riel fought
And equality & freedom were the things sought.
Next he fought clear across Saskatchewan
Still trying to right an age old wrong.

We’ve had other heroes in peace and war
Their blood is running by my door.
I hear the children cry: O come look and see
Somebody’s hanging down from the hanging tree.

We’ve got Orangeman from the east come to fight the western green.
And a flaming cross that Riel has seen.
Bound and chained they brought him in,
Louis still praying from John MacDonald’s sins.

We’ve had other holy men in peace and war
Their blood is running by my door.
I hear the children cry come look and see
Is that the freedom or the hanging tree.

Every dog will bark back in the eastern land
When out west a hero dies by a blind man’s hand.
Sir John gave the orders and the trap was sprung.
In 1885 Louis Riel was hung.

We’ve had other heroes in peace and war
Their blood is running by my door.
I hear the children cry: O come look and see
Somebody’s hanging down from the hanging tree.

Well not it is all over and my song is sung.
Don’t you be a hero or you’ll be hung.
Wrapped in white linen they lowered him down.
John MacDonald’s face had lost the frown.

We’ll have other heroes in peace and war
Their blood is running by my door.
Hero upon hero stack ‘em up one by one.
The list grows longer and it’s just begun.