The duo started performing together in Toronto in 1959. By 1962, they were living in New York City, where they caught the attention of manager Albert Grossman, who managed Peter, Paul and Mary and would soon become Bob Dylan's manager. Grossman secured them a contract with Vanguard Records and they released their first album late in the year.
Four Strong Winds, their second album, featured title song "Four Strong Winds", written by Ian Tyson. "Four Strong Winds" was a major hit in Canada and ensured their stardom. Years later, the song was named as the greatest Canadian song of all time by the CBC-Radio program 50 Tracks: The Canadian Version.
Their third album, Northern Journey, featured the song "Someday Soon", a composition by Ian Tyson that would rival "Four Strong Winds" in its popularity.
Their fourth album, Early Morning Rain, introduced the work of the couple's fellow Canadian songwriter and performer Gordon Lightfoot through the title song and "(That's What You Get) For Lovin' Me".
In 1969, Ian & Sylvia formed the country rock group Great Speckled Bird.
By 1975, Ian & Sylvia had stopped performing together and soon afterwards were divorced.
In 1992, they were inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame.
In 1994, they were both made Members of the Order of Canada.
The Renegade
Ian & Sylvia Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Policemen were climbing
The ghosts call the night wind
Their fantasies to tell
Dark on the snow
Where the blood drops a-drying
Slipped through cold fingers
The whiskey bottle fell
Ha-how-ya, mother
I leave you with your white man
I curse their church that tells us
That our fathers were wrong
And I'll hunt my own Mowich
And I'll drink my own whiskey
And I'll sing until morning
The old-fashioned song
Fires of the potlatch
Are all scattered in their ashes
Ma-sat-chie-ta-ma-now-wits
The evil ones remain
And our children cannot follow
The old nor the new ways
And the poles of their fathers
Are rotting in the rain
Ha-how-ya, mother
I leave you with your white man
I curse their church that tells us
That our fathers were wrong
And I'll hunt my own Mowich
And I'll drink my own whiskey
And I'll sing until morning
The old-fashioned song
Daylight came late
Over high coastal mountains
The renegade stood watching
With his rifle by his side
Then he emptied his gun
Up into the pale yellow sunrise
And he ran down the hillside
To the place where he died
Ha-how-ya, mother
I leave you with your white man
I curse their church that tells us
That our fathers were wrong
And I'll hunt my own Mowich
And I'll drink my own whiskey
And I'll sing until morning
The old-fashioned song
The lyrics to Ian & Sylvia’s song “The Renegade” are a powerful commentary on the mistreatment and betrayal of indigenous peoples by those in power. The song is based on the story of a Native American man who turns against his own people due to their acceptance of European colonialism and the loss of their traditional ways. The singer is haunted by the ghosts of his ancestors who remind him of the blood that has been shed and the traditions that have been lost. The lyrics describe the bleak landscape of a people who have been stripped of their sovereignty and cultural identity, and who are left to fight for their survival against overwhelming odds.
The singer of the song, a renegade in the eyes of his community, is bitter and angry at the betrayal of his people by the white man. He leaves his mother behind, rejecting the religion of the colonizers who have rewritten the history of his people and destroyed their culture. He chooses to hunt his own food and drink his own whiskey, singing an old-fashioned song until morning. The lyrics describe the fires of the potlatch, a traditional Native American ritual that was suppressed by the white man, leaving the community torn between the old and new ways. The poles of their fathers, symbols of their culture, are rotting in the rain, a poignant reminder of the cultural degradation they have experienced.
In conclusion, “The Renegade” is a poignant reminder of the complex issues faced by indigenous communities in the face of colonialism and cultural genocide. The lyrics serve as a powerful commentary on the weight of history and the struggle for identity in a postcolonial world.
Line by Line Meaning
Upon the hillside
On a hill, overlooking the scene
Policemen were climbing
Law enforcement officers are coming up the hill
The ghosts call the night wind
Imagined spirits haunt the wind
Their fantasies to tell
To tell stories of their desires
Dark on the snow
The night sky is dark against snow
Where the blood drops a-drying
Blood is drying on the snow
Slipped through cold fingers
The whiskey bottle dropped from cold fingers
The whiskey bottle fell
The bottle of whiskey fell to the ground
Ha-how-ya, mother
Native American greeting to one's mother
I leave you with your white man
I am leaving you with the white culture
I curse their church that tells us
I disapprove of the church that tells us
That our fathers were wrong
That our ancestors were incorrect
And I'll hunt my own Mowich
I will hunt my own food
And I'll drink my own whiskey
I will drink my own liquor
And I'll sing until morning
I will sing until morning
The old-fashioned song
The traditional song of my people
Fires of the potlatch
The fires used in the Native American potlatch ceremony
Are all scattered in their ashes
The ceremony is finished, and only ash remains
Ma-sat-chie-ta-ma-now-wits
Unknown Native American expression
The evil ones remain
Those who oppress us still exist
And our children cannot follow
Our children cannot fully embrace
The old nor the new ways
Neither the traditional nor the modern ways
And the poles of their fathers
The totem poles of our ancestors
Are rotting in the rain
They are decaying in the rain
Daylight came late
The day started later than usual
Over high coastal mountains
The sun rose over tall mountains near the coast
The renegade stood watching
The outlaw was standing, observing
With his rifle by his side
He was armed with his rifle
Then he emptied his gun
He fired all the rounds in his gun
Up into the pale yellow sunrise
He fired towards the rising sun
And he ran down the hillside
He ran down the hill
To the place where he died
He ran to where he eventually met his death
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Sylvia Fricker, Ian Tyson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Whipspur
Man, old Ian sure will be missed. Canadian and western icon.
@leonardogborn5019
I love this.
@peterr7321
Memories from my past. As a young man, Ian & Sylvia, Joan Baez, Judy Collins, etc were my calming elements, along with Tchaikovsky, etc. Thank you for this clip, and especially for the photos and lyrics.
@thistlewaggoner5052
I've always loved this song since I heard it in my cradle
@Rod_J
Thanks for the posting this great song along with the wonderful pictures and the lyrics. I have just one small correction. The line is "and I'll hunt my own mowich". Mowich is Chinook jargon for Deer.