I've always loved this tune, but had no idea what the lyrics meant so I did some research on Louis Riel (source:Wikipedia) -- here's what I came up with. I'm assuming that the song is from the perspective someone talking to and about Riel, rather than the perspective of Riel himself.
Silver lines are drawn
[Silver lines = Swords? Or maybe metaphorical lines in the sand? Louis Riel was a politician remembered for leading rebellions of aboriginal Canadians against the Canadian government.]
wrapped in golden twine,
[Riel was hanged to death. Maybe the twine refers to the rope used to hang him.]
I've heard tell of you
in ways you would deny
[He is remembered as either a hero or a traitor. Although he seems to have had a messianic complex, who knows how he would have chosen to be remembered?]
Hung by a rope where the railroad will surely come by.
[Riel's downfall occurred during the North-West Rebellion of 1885 when use of the newly developed Canadian Pacific Railway allowed opposing forces to overwhelm him. Hanging near a railroad sounds like a humiliating mark of his defeat. Adding insult to injury, or in this case, execution.]
I've listened way too long
to all your stolen lines,
[Wikipedia says Riel was prone to giving long speeches and writing poetry in the manner of Lamartine. Not sure, but could the song be referencing this?]
the railroad soon will own
all you've left behind.
[Power and progress overtaking history?]
Hang there, all alone
[More references to hanging. Kind of a grim story for a such a light and bouncy tune, eh?]
I've always loved this tune, but had no idea what the lyrics meant so I did some research on Louis Riel (source:Wikipedia) -- here's what I came up with. I'm assuming that the song is from the perspective someone talking to and about Riel, rather than the perspective of Riel himself.
Silver lines are drawn [Silver lines = Swords? Or maybe metaphorical lines in the sand? Louis Riel was a politician remembered for leading rebellions of aboriginal Canadians against the Canadian government.]
wrapped in golden twine, [Riel was hanged to death. Maybe the twine refers to the rope used to hang him.]
I've heard tell of you in ways you would deny [He is remembered as either a hero or a traitor. Although he seems to have had a messianic complex, who knows how he would have chosen to be remembered?]
Hung by a rope where the railroad will surely come by. [Riel's downfall occurred during the North-West Rebellion of 1885 when use of the newly developed Canadian Pacific Railway allowed opposing forces to overwhelm him. Hanging near a railroad sounds like a humiliating mark of his defeat. Adding insult to injury, or in this case, execution.]
I've listened way too long to all your stolen lines, [Wikipedia says Riel was prone to giving long speeches and writing poetry in the manner of Lamartine. Not sure, but could the song be referencing this?]
the railroad soon will own all you've left behind. [Power and progress overtaking history?]
Hang there, all alone [More references to hanging. Kind of a grim story for a such a light and bouncy tune, eh?]