CANADA

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On to Ottawa

"When do we eat?", they cried, 
it was April of nineteen thiry-five.
They were young, out of work, and alone,
 a B.C. relief camp was their home.
6 and a half days a week-for 20 cents a day,
they would do it the government's way.
"Not any more boys, not any more!,
 its off to Ottawa we go.
Two months they tried to make their wage, 
no longer could they harness their rage.
"We'll meet in Vancouver and we'll ride the rods",
listening to Arthur Evans, unity was the call.
So they left their camps, and started away,
Bennett and the other "heels" would remember the day.
Hopping on railway cars, they crossed the vast prairie,
finally they made Regina..its been seven days since Calgary.

Carry On boys, carry on boys, will live this life no more
Be strong boys, be strong boys, its on to Ottawa we go.

"Halt the trek", said the officers,
by orders of Bennett, the Prime Minister.
They were ready with their guns and grenades,
the march would end this day.
But Bennett's boys didn't count on the trekker's support
6,000 strong helped the trekkers "hold the fort".
"lets go boys" said the trekkers, "no longer can we wait",
but all exits were blocked, it was already too late.
The government decided to change its course,
they stalled, and delayed, while building their force.
The trekkers didn't know what layed in store
it was on to Ottawa no more.
"When do we eat, we're running out of food"
fear and anxiety was the prevalent mood.
"They've blocked all the exits, by truck and by rail,
"If we made a run for it now, we surely will fail."

Carry On boys, carry on boys, will live this life no more
Be strong boys, be strong boys, its on to Ottawa we go.

"We don't want to fight, but we won't give in,
send us back to Vancouver" they said "and we won't come back again".
They met with the government one last time,
but both sides had drawn their lines.
The police told them if they refused to go,
to face the consequences, the blood would flow.
A whistle blew on Dominion day, at the market square,
Bennett's boys came out of nowhere, and were loaded for bear.
Surprise turned to anger as the trekkers fought back,
they had stones and sticks, while the police had revolvers and gas.
Mounted police wielding clubs, stormed the crowds
while the fight spilled out of the the square, and into the streets that surround.
For four hours they fought, and blood was shed,
if blood lust was hunger, it was heartily fed.
Evans and the other leaders were taken away,
stepping over bodies of comrades where they lay.

Carry On boys, carry on boys,
we'll live this life no more.
You fought strong boys, you fought well boys,
but its off to Ottawa no more.

"What happens from here?", they sighed,
120 trekkers hurt, one policeman has died.
"it may feel like the end, but its just the beginning,
the trekkers will ride on again".
Picking up the pieces, they measure their fate,
"they only win my friends, if we forget the hate".
The "iron heel" may have won the battle, but the people evened the score,
soon came election time and Bennett finally lost the war. 
Carry On boys, carry on boys, 
will take this life no more
Be strong boys, be strong boys,
 its on to Ottawa we go.

©  Copyright,  Daniel MacDonald.
All Rights Reserved. Printed By Permission.