1931, in the untamed northwest territories
A lone drifter forges through wind and snow
His past unspoken, his purpose unknown
In this desolate land where few dared to go, begins his tale
The mad trapper of Rat River
Among the frozen pines, along a river wide
He carved a modest life where only few survived
A dwelling strong and true, he built with calloused hands
He had no need for law, he had no need for land
The trapper kept to himself, away from nearby camps
But his presence stirred unease among the locals
Whispers spread like fire through the frostbitten wild
Until rumors turned to fear, and fear cried out for law
They came in numbers strong with orders from the crown
They came armed to the teeth to bring the stranger down
He stood there silent still, his eyes were cold and clear
No plea, no words, no trust, he showed no sign of fear
A dynamite blast his home was lost
The ceiling collapsed, his body tossed
Through the smoke, fired back at them
He fought ’em all off, but they’d come again
In the wake of bitter storm with mounties on his trail
Bound by neither man nor land through snow and biting hail
His spirit untamed and free, they couldn’t hold him down
He slipped from their grasp, defiant, never to be bound
For nearly forty days they hunted him
Through ice, wind, and 150 miles of frozen hell
He outwitted men, evaded dogs
But no man can run forever
They rounded the bend, he stood in view
Snow all around with no way through
No option left no retreat in sight
He steadied his gun and prepared for the fight
In the wake of bitter storm and lawmen on his tail
Bound by neither man nor land through blizzards fierce and pale
Rivers deep and mountains high, they hunted day and night
For a ghost leaves only whispers in the endless northern white
In the wake of bitter storm and mounties on his tail
Bound by neither man nor land through the snow and biting hail
Rivers deep and mountains high, they wouldn’t end the fight
Till the lawmen claimed his body on that final bloody fateful
Night
Other lyrics by The Real McKenzies:
A Cannibals Lament
Well, I’m not just a guy There’s me, myself, and I The tolling of the bell alone in guarded cell The firmament of stars as seen through iron bars With …
A Cannibals Lament
Well, I’m not just a guy There’s me, myself, and I The tolling of the bell alone in guarded cell The firmament of stars as seen through iron bars With …
Black Agnes
Good morning Mrs Douglas We shall nay behave Amongst the bones and jewelry Within our coastal cave The night has brought us fortune Our bellies ripe with meat Our …
Black Agnes
Good morning Mrs Douglas We shall nay behave Amongst the bones and jewelry Within our coastal cave The night has brought us fortune Our bellies ripe with meat Our …
Fiona (Wee Luv Ewe)
There once was a sheep in the highlands “Fiona” was her name She once went amiss when she tumbled off a cliff And given up for dead and not for fame Seven …