1. |
Louis Sam
06:43
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Late in the winter of '84 - a border town on the Whatcom trail
Tragedy of the highest score - as I recount my woefull tail
Gunshots at the strike of noon - coming from his general store
John Bell's flailing body - bleeds life upon the floor
The Dutchman named Bill Osterman - claimed he saw the fleeing man
Heading north on the Whatcom trail - a musket in the young man's hand
He claimed to recollect his face - and the name of Louis Sam
A Salish son from across the line - he's bound for the Kilgard Band
Now Louis was from the Stolo line - just raised his 15th summer
God fearing folks called him a thief - others called him a runner
The prods vowed to clear the land of the heathen sons and mothers
But the fait that awaited young Louis - would make their saints a shudder
Apprehended the very next day - at Thomas York's he's held at bay
Constable of the county - now the scene begins to play
At sunrise they'll be westward - with hooves upon the ground
Trial by fire in the royal city - they'll be Westminster bound
Meanwhile in the Nooksack street - tensions rise to a vengeful heat
Dutch Bill shouts a lynching spree - you can't believe such irony
You see the Dutchman hated John Bell - he wanted his general store
He's the last man to talk to Bell - before his blood spilled on the floor
Vigilante justice runs afoul tonight
Hang him high in the pale moonlight
Hang him high tonight
Vigilante justice cowers from the light
Hang him high in the pale moonlight
Hang him high tonight
In painted face and blackened eyes - they headed north in their disguise
50 riders in the night they lurk - off to do the Dutchman's s work
Thomas York beds down for the night - gets the itch that something
ain't right
Ten men pushing through the door - in the night hid forty more
York agreed to the mobs demands - he bartered the life of this young
man
They dragged Louis from his megshift cell - south to the border his
road to hell
A torched procession lit up the night - high on a horse with his hands
bound tight
Louis began to loose all hope - a tightened noose around his throat
His last act upon this plane - one of the cowards he called by name
Said he'd fix him eye to eye - then Louis' light soared to the sky
Tom York cut his body down - took him back to his Kilgard town
His mother kissed his cold cold hand - his father gave him back to the
land
The government spat an apology - the vigilantes all road free
The Dutchman took John Bell's store - the Queen's justice slammed
the door
Now here's a lesson for all to heed - beware the bullies and bribers
that be
And hold close this verse I cite - beware the cowards under cover
of night
Vigilante justice runs afoul tonight
They'll hang him high by the devil's pike
Hang him high tonight
Vigilante justice cowers from the light
They'll hang him high by the devil's pike
Hang him high tonight
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2. |
Long Way To Go
03:34
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Got a gal on the Matsqui nation
Half a mile from the Dennison station
I gets to see her maybe once a week
That's if the 509 brakes for the trestle at the creek.
Cause it's a long long long way to go
I got a job by the riverside
I swing a hoe from dawn well into night
It only pays say a dollar and a dime
Gonna spend every nickel on that sweet gal of mine
Cause it's a long long long way to go
Ya gots yer Alberta crude and and yer Cariboo gold
Makes the man rich while I swing this ol' hoe
I see the black snake loaded down with kootenay coal
Lining people's pockets while mine are lined with holes
Cause it's a long long long way to go
Well if I ever strike it rich if providence delivers
I'm gonna take this old hoe gonna toss her in the river
Buy a straight 8 Cord gonna drive my gal in style
Gonna drive her to the church gonna walk her down the isle
Cause it's a long long long way to go.
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3. |
Thoughts and Prayers
05:39
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Divine intervention can't help the people down on the street
Seems the lower they fall the more the Man turns up the heat
The camp congregation wonders if anyone anywhere really cares
Then the panhandler donates his dime to call a higher authority somewhere upstairs
We can't live on Thoughts and Prayers Thoughts and Prayers don't you know
We can't live on Thoughts and Prayers Thoughts and Prayers don't you know
For Christ sakes Jesus... pick up the phone and call home
Why do you forsake us the panhandler asked the powers that be
There was silence on the other line then a nervous cough as the voice began to speak
He said to you the meek who inherit the street I got a question I needs to ask
Could you make some room on my sidewalk for the second coming of the middle class
We can't live on Thoughts and Prayers Thoughts and Prayers don't you know
We can't live on Thoughts and Prayers Thoughts and Prayers don't you know
For Christ sake Jesus... pick up the phone and call home
We can't live on Thoughts and Prayers Thoughts and Prayers don't you know
We can't live on Thoughts and Prayers Thoughts and Prayers don't you know
For Christ sake Jesus... pick up the phone and call home
Featuring Vince Pollitt on Trumpet.
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4. |
Tashme
04:30
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Instrumental
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5. |
Here We Go
04:10
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As you look into my eyes so clear - what do you see from far and near
just a hollowed out branch - like the tree down the road
And the ground beneath - that our souls have sold
My dear young lass - don't you understand
A warrior you'd be in this broken land
Just seize the strength of the power you see
And feign your trust in these fools that be
Hey, hey, here we go
From weathered hands the torch is thrown
As the world around you burns to the ground
You sit in silence, speak no sound
Tonight the sky will dance a dream
In colors magenta, gold, and green
Let the air continue to breathe us life
Through senseless fear and endless strife
Hey, hey, here we go
From weathered hands the torch is thrown
As the world around you burns to the ground
You sit in silence, speak no sound
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6. |
Sneakin' Hunch
04:58
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There ain't no sure bets - nothings for certain
Pay no attention to the suit behind the curtain
I gotta sneakin' hunch - things don't appear as they be
I'm searching high and low for my bit of the truth
And I find the hired help playing fast and loose
For the power and the glory - for the money I suspect
You can find these conmen dealin' from the bottom of the deck
I got this sneakin' hunch - things don't appear as they be
I got this sneakin' hunch - things don't appear as they be
I got this bad feeling baby - things aren't quite as they seem
It's on my radio - damn the left say she
I see it on my TV - shove the right say he
Walking in circles - who to believe
That's what their counting on - that's where they want us to be
Sneakin' hunch - things ain't quite as they be
I got this sneakin' hunch - things don't appear as they be
I got this bad bad feeling - things ain't quite as they seem
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7. |
When The Rivers Run Dry
05:13
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Scorched earth and an oily curse you ooze across the land
Legal hounds lead the charge eviction notes in hand
The courts buy you time to push through your crime
When the rivers run dry
Do your children look in shame as you carry out these crimes
Do they know they’ll pay the price a little further down the line
Descendants be damned as you bleed the land
When the rivers run dry
There was a time in this life when we had a voice to make things right
Then all the walls fell in with your
Monetary might your gilded blight making deals in the night
When the rivers run dry
Try to find a place to hide you’re wary of a stand
Maybe deep in the sway of a purse like the elected of this land
Can you see the blackened sky as you raise this poison land
Do you feel we’ve gone to far to turn this ship around
As we head for the rocks I doubt your money will talk
When the rivers run dry
When will they realize that water’s life and a basic right
Its time to stand and fight this
Justice denied all logic aside making deals in the night
When the rivers run dry
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8. |
In The Pines
03:59
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Black girl black girl don't you lie to me -
Tell me where did you sleep last night
In the pines in the pines where the sun never shines -
And I shivered the whole night long
Black girl black girl tell me where will you go
I'm going where the cold wind blows
I caused her to weep
I caused her to moan
I caused her to leave her home
My daddy was a railroad man - killed a mile and a half from town
His head was caught 'neath the driver's wheel - and his body ain't
never been found
Black girl black girl don't you lie to me -
Tell me where did you sleep last night
In the pines in the pines where the sun never shines -
And I shivered the whole night long
The longest train I ever saw - was a hundred coaches long
And the only one I ever loved - was on that train and gone
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9. |
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Hands in the dirt - shovels and sand
What a lovely garden I had planned
Waiting for the warmth of spring to arrive
The honey bees work to fill the hive
And the sun will rise to greet the land
Who will plant the garden when I'm gone
Who will plant the garden when I'm gone
When I'm gone, when I'm gone, when I'm gone, when I'm gone
Who will plant the garden when I'm gone
Red sky at night - mariner's delight
Let us dance for the rain
Come what may we revere the day
And we breathe in the blue moonlight
Who will plant the garden when I'm gone
Who will plant the garden when I'm gone
When I'm gone, when I'm gone, when I'm gone, when I'm gone
Who will plant the garden when I'm gone
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10. |
Shine a Light
05:57
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From the mist in days of old- in a land that held a code
Storied down for all to hear- across the lands far and near
In their souls did shine a light- cross the sky it shone so bright
in these land of those that dwell- seek no heaven fear no hell
|The time is nigh - don't let it pass you by
Whatever comes your way - night will turn to day
So shine a light where darkness prevails
However dear it seems - cast your net of dreams
And shine a light where darkness prevails
When it came to darker times- brighter still their light would shine
If frail and old fell behind- those ahead would cast a line
From the elder the student learns- upon the hills their knowledge burns
Many tried the light to quell- many tried and many fell
Oooo it's time- the moon is high
Whatever comes your way - night will turn to day
So shine a light where darkness prevails
However dear it seems - cast a net of dreams
And shine a light where darkness prevails
Across the tarns to further lands- the code was passed to open hands
Through the mists of time it seems- others learn to live their dreams
Over sees they shone the light- across the skies they lit the night
Harmony had set it's berth- natures poised on mother earth
The time is high - don't let it pass you by
Whatever comes your way - night will turn to day
So shine a light where darkness prevails
Cast your net of dreams - however dear it seems
And shine a light where darkness prevails
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The Ranters Shawnigan Lake, British Columbia
Rant on, Children
In these recordings, The Ranters review subject matter of
localized racism, destruction of
environment, and increasing homelessness. Throughout these songs, there lies a thread of
healthy contempt for religious authority, as well as a touch of humor and optimism.
“The Ranters” hope that you enjoy this musical offering of
contemporary roots/blues titled “Rant on, Children”.
... more
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