FLOYD WESTERMAN performing 'DRUMS'(PeterLaFarge) with LYRICS added newly

Great recording of a great song written by Peter LaFarge and also recorded by
Johnny Cash for his album 'Bitter Tears - Ballads of the American Indian'
www.floydredcrowwesterman.com

note: Peter LaFarge was a very good Indian Folksinger and most famous for writing 'The Ballad of Ira Hayes', one of Johnny Cash' biggest hitrecords.

LYRICS to 'DRUMS' (written by Peter LaFarge) - lyrics here newly added on march 20, 2011.

From the Indian Reservation to the Governmental School
Well, they're going to educate me to the White Man's golden rule
And i'm learning very quickly for i've learned to be ashamed
And i come when they call 'Billy !' , 'though i've got an Indian name.

And there are drums beyond the mountain
Indian drums that you can't hear
There are drums beyond the mountain
and they're getting mighty near.

And when they think that they've changed me, cut my hair to meet their needs.
Will they think i'm white or Indian, quarterblood or just halfbreed?
Let me tell you, Mr. Teacher, when you say you'll make me right,
in 500 years of fighting NOT ONE INDIAN TURNED WHITE !

And there are drums ...

Well, you thought that i knew nothing, when you brought me here to school.
Just another empty Indian, just America's first fool.
But i can tell you stories that are burnt and dried and old.
And in the shadow of their telling walks the thunder proud and bold.

And there are drums ....

Long Pine and Sequoia, Handsome Lake and Sitting Bull.
There's Magnus Colorado with his sleeves so red and full.
Crazy Horse the Legend, those who bit off Custer's soul;
They are dead, yet they are living with the great Geronimo.

And there are drums ....

Well, you may teach me this land's history, but we taught it to you first.
We broke your hearts and bent your journeys; broken treaties left us cursed.
Even now you have to cheat us, even though you think us tame.
In our losing we found proudness, in your winning YOU FOUND SHAME !

And there are drums ...

(note: every word here is true !!)

Love and peace and hope to all of you.

The Doc

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Floyd
• Westerman
• Red
• Crow
• RedCrow
• Drums
• Johnny
• Cash
• Tribute
• Peter
• LaFarge
• Indian
• Bitter
• Tears
• country music
• country
• with
• LYRICS
• added
• newly
• Ballad
• of
• Ira
• Hayes

[ExpatBlues]

Yep! Powerful Person too!

[fight2thelast1]

Powerful song. Awesome.

[longsf1]

Good.

[jarvila2]

Don't think this great soul isn't still working for the betterment of ALL 4 Directions of Human Beings, as well as the Rock, Tree, & Animal Beings. Perhaps being on the "other side" makes our dear friend Floyd's "Work" available to more Beings. At least I like to think that. No, more than "think", I "know".

[suzukiSJ88]

that was a great song im glad i stumbled upon it

[kitabwalli]

This dear brother has gone to a better place - well out of this sorry world.

[iFrogsister]

very 8]