Fiddle bids us

the first high call of the fiddle bids us dance

baits with its first pluck and saw of the bow

reels us, feet flick — fins to its lure and line

steady second fiddle stoking the fire below

our Red River jig and step-dance will witness

that we long kissed this earth with our feet

that we long kissed this earth with our feet

before the surveyors executed their dance

of lines and stakes at the corners to witness

the Dominion’s decree to leave just fiddle and bow

and no quarter sections to bury our relatives below

because we resisted the government’s line

because we resisted the government’s line

we will now dance and speak with our feet

our provisional council will guide us from below

their suffering and sacrifice renewed our dance

our single-minded celebration of the fiddle and bow

will continue for generations to be our witness

will continue for generations to be our witness

when politics and greed try to twist our lines

we’ll commence to jig to fiddle and bow

when the fiddler arrives we’ll vote with our feet

we, the improvident ones, proclaim our dance

to the ministers and lords who tried to set us below

to the ministers and lords who tried to set us below

our well documented petitions will be our witness

when Imperial powers elect to perform their dance

the “greasy rebels” and “unhung felons” [14] will not fall in line

because the Métis forevermore will vote with their feet

now that the Dominion has left us with fiddle and bow

now that the Dominion has left us with fiddle and bow

who will call the dance, but our ancestors below

who have directed us to vote with our feet

drops of brandy and the Reel of Eight will witness

how we generated our own steps and lines

without permission from the National dance

dance bow                 line below                 witness feet