The Ballad of Ira Hayes - Kris Kristofferson

Gather round me, people, there's a story I would tell, About a brave young Indian you should remember well; From the land of the Pima Indians, a proud and noble band, Who farmed the Phoenix Valley in Arizona land. Down their ditches for a thousand years the waters grew Ira's people's crops, Till the white man stole their water rights and their sparklin' water stopped. Now Ira's folks grew hungry, and their farms grew crops of weeds. When war came, Ira volunteered and forgot the white man's greed. Call him drunken Ira Hayes -- He won't answer anymore, Not the whiskey-drinkin' Indian, Not the Marine who went to war. Well, they battled up Iwo Jima hill -- two hundred and fifty men, But only twenty-seven lived -- to walk back down again; When the fight was over -- and Old Glory raised Among the men who held it high was the Indian -- Ira Hayes. Ira Hayes returned a hero -- celebrated through the land, He was wined and speeched and honored -- everybody shook his hand; But he was just a Pima Indian -- no water, no home, no chance; At home nobody cared what Ira done -- and when do the Indians dance? Then Ira started drinkin' hard -- jail was often his home; They let him raise the flag and lower it -- as you would throw a dog a bone; He died drunk early one morning -- alone in the land he'd fought to save; Two inches of water in a lonely ditch -- was the grave for Ira Hayes. Yea, call him drunken Ira Hayes, But his land is just as dry, And the ghost is lying thirsty In the ditch where Ira died.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Kris
• Kristofferson
• The
• Ballad
• of
• Ira
• Hayes
• Johnny
• Cash

[colton422]

peace to Chief Falling Cloud. R.I.P. its been documented that Ira never wanted all the attention and regretted that his fallen brothers never got to come home to reality and life in the USA, let alone be honored as a "hero" by President Eisenhower at the White House. peace my brother. remember equality starts with each one of us on a daily basis in our own life.

[liftwaffe]

Great performance by Kris,the song actually sound better with him.Dont get me wrong I was a Cash fan waaay before I got into Kris.But somehow it seems better and more with the times when Kris does it.

waffe

[deerhunter458]

wtf pics

[Mikisee]

@colton422 I thought it was President Truman

[Wigwasautigonze]

For many of us Anishnabes, Ira is still a part of us. Ira's courage is in our hearts. I feel it very seldmo, but there is an emotion in my me, proud of my ancestors who I believe are with me. But I am used to shutting them out in day to day life. However, when I see their heriosm in the media, thier words and deeds touch my heart, forcing me to hold back tears...I too am just an Indian...IT MUST ALLOW THEM TO ACCEPT THEIR COURAGE....

[okiematt48]

We need NDN history month and NDN entertainment television. but i guess you gotta be black to showcase and be proud of your race unless its tv showing the NDN's to be savage killers who are the bad guys or drunks.

[MrJPONZ]

Listen to Pat Sky's version of the great Peter LaFarge song. Best one IMO...

[OkieDokie306]

Say what you want, the fathers in Washington dumped on the indians, UNFAIR!! Most of us are at least part indian and that part greaves for the lose

[stockfischlorenz]

Remember this song when you bash on hispanics. they fight for your country too...

[WTFyouDAMF]

what a great tribute to both the native americans and the flagraisers on Iwo Jima

[WTFyouDAMF]

@72lukey1 some dumb commi

[ant67hony]

@72lukey1 unfortunatly some dickweeds get off by disliking songs just for the reaction it causes,instead of looking at the dislikes i now try to work out the percentages and knowing that 99.7% LIKE this song makes that one dickweed seem very insignificant