Justice in Ontario

Album: The Collection (2002)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This song is about two true stories of vigilante justice in Ontario. Steve Earle first sings about The Black Donnellys, who are a family that immigrated to Ontario around 1845. They settled in Biddulph Township where an old family rivalry started 200 years earlier was rekindled. The Donnellys were charged with accounts of assault, arson, trespassing, verbal assault, attempted murder, murder of Patrick Farrell, theft, robbery, and assaulting a police officer. They were found not guilty of everything they were charged with but became enemies with many of the town's residents in the process. Crimes committed in the area were immediately blamed on the Donnellys. Eventually, members of the town formed a mob, killed the Donnellys - including their two children - and set the house on fire. Prominent town members were involved in the massacre, and the judge threw the case out due to the implications of a guilty verdict.

    Steve Earle relates this to modern times, singing that 100 years later you'd think things have changed, but he then he brings up the case of a Port Hope, Ontario man being shot and killed in a bar and the shooter never being brought to justice even though six other men were sent to prison. >>>
    Suggestion credit:
    Josh - Sarnia, Canada

Comments: 2

  • Gary Nutty Comeau from OntarioThe granddaddy of all framejobs is coming soon!!
  • Peter Ab from EdmontonJustice In Ontario was originally penned by Earle after reading "Conspiracy Of Brothers" and meeting with the incarcerated members of the Satan's Choice MC, then released on the album 'The Hard Way' in 1990.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Pam Tillis

Pam TillisSongwriter Interviews

The country sweetheart opines about the demands of touring and talks about writing songs with her famous father.

Tony Joe White

Tony Joe WhiteSongwriter Interviews

The writer of "Rainy Night in Georgia" and "Polk Salad Annie" explains how he cooks up his Louisiana swamp rock.

80s Music Quiz 1

80s Music Quiz 1Music Quiz

MTV, a popular TV theme song and Madonna all show up in this '80s music quiz.

Eric Burdon

Eric BurdonSongwriter Interviews

The renown rock singer talks about "The House of the Rising Sun" and "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood."

Jesus Christ Superstar: Ted Neeley Tells the Inside Story

Jesus Christ Superstar: Ted Neeley Tells the Inside StorySong Writing

The in-depth discussion about the making of Jesus Christ Superstar with Ted Neeley, who played Jesus in the 1973 film.

British Invasion

British InvasionFact or Fiction

Go beyond The Beatles to see what you know about the British Invasion.