Lyric discussion by john103132 

Cover art for Don Quixote lyrics by Gordon Lightfoot

The "ones who put the collar on the ones who dare not tell" is anyone who has economic, political, or person leverage over another person to get them bent to their own will. The leverage prevents them from telling, I guess, because the common knowledge of the "leverage" would be worst than the collar being imposed on them. Good example is the way businesses control their employees through economic blackmail, e.g. our way or the highway.

Song Meaning