Lyric discussion by phantassee 

The number 46201 is Jean Valjean's prisoner number in Les Miserables by Victor Hugo. Since Burton Cummings is well educated, this is most likely the meaning of the lyric, probably relating his situation to that of Jean Valjean's.

Close, but not quite. Jean Valjean's number is 24601.

@phantassee Burton attended St. John's High School. He dropped out of school, due to poor grades, when he was sixteen. Forty-five years later, in 2010, his former high school awarded him an honorary diploma. Great musician/songwriter/singer not so much well-educated.

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