Justice in Ontario
Unveiling Injustice: Steve Earle's Tale of Blood, Betrayal, and Ontario's Dark Past
Lyrics
Oh you who hail from Ontario
Introduction addressing those from Ontario.
Know the tale of the Donnelly's Oh
Reference to the Donnelly family and their story.
Died at the hands of a mob that night
Describes the Donnellys' death at the hands of a mob.
Every child and man by the oil torch light
Depicts the brutal scene with children and men witnessing.
Jim Donnelly was no angel sure
Acknowledges Jim Donnelly's flaws.
But they burned his barn, broke down the door
Details the retaliation against Jim, including burning his barn.
Well the children cried while they killed old Jim
Children witness Jim's killing.
Then they killed his wife, then they turned on them
Continuation of the violence with the killing of Jim's wife.
No judge, no jury, no hangman, no justice in Ontario
Expresses the lack of proper legal proceedings and justice.
A hundred years or more have turned
Reflects on the passage of time and claimed progress.
And you always hear how much we've learned
Contrasts the historical violence with purported societal advancement.
Well a man lay dead in a Port Hope bar
Describes a violent incident in Port Hope involving a death.
And the blood ran red on a hardwood floor
Portrays the aftermath with blood on a hardwood floor.
And the big men ran through the nearest door
Highlights the chaos as significant figures flee.
Only one man knew what had happened for sure
One person has true knowledge of the event.
Well one and all wore the outlaws' brand
Characterizes individuals as outlaws.
And the big bikes roared through the Great Northland
Describes motorcycles in the Great Northland, suggesting rebellion.
When you live on the edge of the law
Living on the edge of the law implies a lack of conventional justice.
You know, justice in Ontario
Reiterates the theme of justice being elusive in Ontario.
Blue smoke still hung in the air
Describes the aftermath with lingering smoke.
No one spoke when the cops got there
Emphasizes the silence when the police arrive.
Well the local constable made the call
Local constable calls for help.
Send us Corporal Terry Hall
Specific officer, Corporal Terry Hall, is requested.
They all sang a different tune
People change their stories upon the officer's arrival.
When Corporal Hall walked in the room
Shift in attitudes when Corporal Hall enters.
With his picture book and a list of names
Corporal Hall gathers information from witnesses.
One by one the witnesses came
Witnesses provide the information sought.
And they told him what he wanted to know
They cooperate for the sake of justice.
Justice in Ontario
Emphasizes the quest for justice in Ontario.
The provincial cops searched far and wide
Provincial police search extensively for suspects.
And the outlaws ran but they could not hide
Outlaws attempt to evade capture.
And they brought em in every single one
All suspects, except the gunman, are apprehended.
Save the man who actually fired the gun
The actual shooter remains elusive.
It was down in London, they were tried
Trials take place in London.
And the guilty man stood free outside
The guilty man is set free, highlighting a flawed justice system.
When he took the stand to pay his debt
The convicted person tries to fulfill their obligation.
The judge was blind and the jury deaf
The judge and jury are depicted as ineffective.
In Kingston Town they're locked up still
Reference to imprisonment in Kingston Town.
When the sun goes down and the air is chill
Describes the atmosphere in the prison.
You could swear you heard Jim Donnelly's ghost cry
Suggests a haunting presence related to Jim Donnelly.
"Justice In Ontario"
The cry of "Justice in Ontario" echoes, indicating an ongoing plea for justice.
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