[Intro]
G7 C G7 C G
[Verse]
C F G7 C F
An east wing blew in the storms of time
Em Dm G7
Where the Metis lived by the winding river
Em Dm G7 Em Am
When on a steel rail the settlers came
Dm F G7
To the South Saskatchewan and the land they claimed
[Verse]
C F G7 C F
Then three Metis and Gabrial
Em Dm G7
Rode like the wind to wild Montana
Em Dm G7 Em Am
There on the Sweetgrass, in a church of stone
Dm F G7
They found their saviour, and they brought him home
[Chorus]
C F G7 C F
Saying, "Come Riel, we'll make a stand
Em Dm G7
Here at Botoche, beside the river
Em Dm G7 Em Am
Ah, never mind their Gatling guns
Dm F G7 C F G7 C G7
If we lose this time, we've lost forever!"
[Verse]
C F G7 C F
Well, the bullets flew and the cannons roared
Em Dm G7
And the Metis' blood flowed like a river
Em Dm G7 Em Am
Into the coulees where they ran to hide
Dm F G7
It washed their dreams away, and their spirit died
[Chorus]
C F G7 C F
"Oh, come Riel, we'll make a stand
Em Dm G7
Here at Botoche, beside the river
Em Dm G7 Em Am
Ah, never mind their Gatling guns
Dm F G7 C F G7 C G7
If we lose this time, we've lost forever!"
[Verse]
C F G7 C F
Oh, a silence stole across the land
Em Dm G7
The drums of war were hushed forever
Em Dm G7 Em Am
But in the starlight on the barren plains
Dm F G7
The cry of Gabrial flies on the wind
[Chorus]
C F G7 C F
"Oh, come Riel, we'll make a stand
Em Dm G7
Here at Botoche, beside the river
Em Dm G7 Em Am
Ah, never mind their Gatling guns
Dm F G7 C
If we lose this time, we've lost forever!
Dm F G7 C
If we lose this time, we've lost forever!"