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Riel: New Version

from Lonely Heroes: Abroad by John Spearn

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lyrics

We arrived near Batoche on that day, with chains to take Riel away.

Our orders from Middleton were clear: {"Rout the Metis . . . right here!"}

The Saskatchewan River, with a steam paddle-wheeler, we sailed.

With our cannons and horses, provisions and tack,

And a fine eight hundred, we’d surely prevail.

And tose men of Dumont were a ragged brigade,

“Dieu ne les laisserait pas perdre!” Riel said, {and they stayed }

With our scarlet and polish, we smelled of the English,

We could see them from miles away.

And in trenches the Metis started to pray . . . they started to pray!

We had the finest of rifles and ammo' in our revelry.

With two guns made by Gatling, let loose! The devil to see!

And the two hundred Metis had muskets for shot,

And for three remarkable days, they fought, and they fell . . .they fought and they fell.

"Stop the madness! Stop killing! Stop in God's name!"

{We could hear the priest yell} . . .

Speaking: Riel escaped, but gave himself up after 3 days. I was first up to the

man...Riel looked my soul right through.

He said "Dieu, pardonnez les, il ne savent pas, ce qu’il font!"

<Oh Lord, forgive them, for they know not what they do!>

I squirmed and started shaking... Riel looked me in the eye,

And I knew deep down in my soul that this brave man. . . was doomed to die.

{And in chains we took Riel away

and the little church rang its bell.

And dozens of men lay dead on the ground,

With a tale they never could tell.}

With a tale they never could tell!

Near the little church on La Belle Prairie . . .

credits

from Lonely Heroes: Abroad, released August 18, 2014

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John Spearn Edmonton, Alberta

You’ll instantly catch these deep influences threaded through John’s fine vocals, lyrics, and rootsy, guitar-mastered songwriting works. This is pure Canadiana: forgotten but deserving heroes, the humility in our international image, and a superb range of tender ballads through to raw, foot-stompin’ stories that need to be told. ... more

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