Story Behind The Song

Only on one day in Canadian history was more than 1 person hanged. 9 men were hanged on Black Friday Nov 27th 1885. ONE was my g/g/uncle. The Simmons family History is an important one. The first settlers of Upper Canada. When I wrote this song I felt that it would help heal the hurt caused by this event. The archives in Ottawa finally released after over 100 years the facts . I coined the phrase Histscape Music to usher in a New genre of music. Carefully researched lyrics that are Heritage driven in a highly personal way, created by events of such magnitude they (the GHOSTS of the Past) seem to take control.

Song Description

My feelings about the hanging of my G/G/uncle.

Lyrics

I met an Old man with a Walking Stick Hand Carved from a Diamond Willow
said it was a Souvenir of Batouche Celebrating Canadas first National Fight
Captured Louie Riel, Metis Indians Manitoba would be right

Without, Charles Duchesne, alias Charlebois, Iron Body. The Man without Blood
Wandering Spirit, Little Bear and Bad Arrow, there was Dressy, then Miserable Man

Who followed Louie Riel, Believed in Louie Riel

But they taught the people to sing this song,
?Goodbye Benjamin, Goodbye Benjamin, Goodbye Benjamin Now Cheat the Hangman if you can?

They came from the forests of New Brunswick, the shores of Nova Scotia
From Prince Edward Island, Quebec too, On to Ontario to show them the way
Across the Great Lakes and then I heard him say.

He was a 7th Fusilier, alias Chemist, had an Iron Body, he had Blue Blood
Adventurous Spirit, shot straight as an arrow, what I saw was a Dressy, but Miserable Man

Who feared Louie Riel, and for Canada as well.

So they had taught the people to sing this song.

?Goodbye Benjamin, Goodbye Benjamin, Goodbye Benjamin Now Cheat the Hangman if you can?

Now this Benjamin Simmons made the headlines of the day,
Papers across Canada, New York too, ?Why did they hand him?? I asked, but he didn?t say
But when these nine went to the gallows he said it was Canada?s Black Friday

They hanged 8 in Battleford, Benjamin in London, Louie was hanged on the 16th, must not spill more Blood
Ben was the Lamb, the sacrifice to the alter out West it was messy they were miserable men.

Who condemned Louie Riel and Benjamin as well.

So let me hear all you Canadians sing

?Goodbye Benjamin, Goodbye Benjamin, Goodbye Benjamin Cheat the Hangman if you can?

I met an Old man with a Walking Stick Hand Carved from a Diamond Willow
said it was a Souvenir of Batouche Celebrating Canadas first National Fight
Captured Louie Riel, Metis Indians Manitoba would be right