One Shoe
from Klezmer Mongrels by Geoff Berner
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lyrics
He came to the door with a folder of prints
Familiar cliches, traditional motifs
He said I've got to do the feathers and the wolves for the money
People eat them up but I've got some here that come from my life
A rusted car, a school fight, got my girlfriend to pose for two days,
It's called Patience after the Guns and Roses song
And this one is called One Shoe
Neil Stonechild was frozen on the edge of Saskatoon
12 years ago
And now the body and the case have been exhumed
It's come to light that in the dead of winter nights, cold and remote
The Saskatoon police have taken men on one way rides
Police Chief quote:
It's happened more than once. We fully admit that
On behalf of the department I want to apologize
And we must take ownership of the things that have
Transpired
Neil was 17, in a group home for B and E
Was in AA but had been drinking on the night
He and Jason rang some bells, knocked on doors
Looking for a friend
The cops were called, the boys split up
15 minutes later Jason saw Neil handcuffed and bleeding
In the back of the cruiser
Screaming, looking scared-
Help me, they're going to kill me
One shoe
Neil's body was discovered five days later on the outskirts
Jason gave two statements to police but they weren't taken
The death deemed accidental
The official version being that
Neil Stonechild was on his way to
Turning himself in
To an adult penitentiary
At minus 28 degrees
With one shoe.
An inquiry was launched twelve years later
After Rodney Naistus froze to death and
Lawrence Wegner froze to death and
Lloyd Dustyhorn froze to death and
Darryl Night nearly did, but lived to prove
Abduction and abandonment was common practice
Still, the original case files concerning Neil
Were destroyed in renovations
RCMP investigations
Failed to find evidence for prosecution
So in a cloud of suspicion,
The hearings start October
Neil's mother just wants closure
One Shoe
Neil Stonechild was a wrestler and a painter and
I think he would have liked this one
He must have lost it running
He should have tied the laces
It symbolizes something
Mistakes, getting chased, empty spaces
One Shoe, one shoe, one shoe
Familiar cliches, traditional motifs
He said I've got to do the feathers and the wolves for the money
People eat them up but I've got some here that come from my life
A rusted car, a school fight, got my girlfriend to pose for two days,
It's called Patience after the Guns and Roses song
And this one is called One Shoe
Neil Stonechild was frozen on the edge of Saskatoon
12 years ago
And now the body and the case have been exhumed
It's come to light that in the dead of winter nights, cold and remote
The Saskatoon police have taken men on one way rides
Police Chief quote:
It's happened more than once. We fully admit that
On behalf of the department I want to apologize
And we must take ownership of the things that have
Transpired
Neil was 17, in a group home for B and E
Was in AA but had been drinking on the night
He and Jason rang some bells, knocked on doors
Looking for a friend
The cops were called, the boys split up
15 minutes later Jason saw Neil handcuffed and bleeding
In the back of the cruiser
Screaming, looking scared-
Help me, they're going to kill me
One shoe
Neil's body was discovered five days later on the outskirts
Jason gave two statements to police but they weren't taken
The death deemed accidental
The official version being that
Neil Stonechild was on his way to
Turning himself in
To an adult penitentiary
At minus 28 degrees
With one shoe.
An inquiry was launched twelve years later
After Rodney Naistus froze to death and
Lawrence Wegner froze to death and
Lloyd Dustyhorn froze to death and
Darryl Night nearly did, but lived to prove
Abduction and abandonment was common practice
Still, the original case files concerning Neil
Were destroyed in renovations
RCMP investigations
Failed to find evidence for prosecution
So in a cloud of suspicion,
The hearings start October
Neil's mother just wants closure
One Shoe
Neil Stonechild was a wrestler and a painter and
I think he would have liked this one
He must have lost it running
He should have tied the laces
It symbolizes something
Mistakes, getting chased, empty spaces
One Shoe, one shoe, one shoe
credits
from Klezmer Mongrels,
released January 25, 2009
Words and music by: Kris Demeanor
Words and music by: Kris Demeanor
license
all rights reserved
tags
about
Geoff Berner Vancouver, British Columbia
Singer / songwriter / accordionist / novelist Geoff Berner's music combines klezmer, punk, political satire and Balkan dance rhythms. He writes sharp, literate songs that make you want to weep, laugh, grind your teeth, or kick out a window - often all at the same time. Having built a cult following with his weirdly compelling stage presence, G.B. has a strange ability to create fun chaos. ... more
discography
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Jul 2023 -
Mar 2021 -
Nov 2019 -
Sep 2017 -
Jul 2017 -
Oct 2015 -
Mar 2011 -
Jan 2009 -
Jan 2007 -
Aug 2005 -
Jan 2003 -
Jul 2017
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