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Ira Hayes

from GOOD ROAD by Burns and Warshaw

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    Newest album of authentic traditional and original American acoustic music by these veteran masters of folk. Songs ranging from lust through comedy to battling injustice. You'll want to listen, learn, sing, play and share.
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    Album notes by Jack Warshaw
    Song notes by Burns and Warshaw

    Jack Warshaw - vocals, guitars, banjo, autoharp, production
    Stuart Burns - vocals, guitar
    John McGarvey – bass
    Ken and Chris Amblin – studio/mix
    Bart Warshaw - mastering
    Jack Warshaw - design

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about

Clint Eastwood’s recent film retold the aftermath of the famous flag
raising photo over Mt Suribachi on Iwo Jima after one of the bloodiest battles of WWII. The song, from 60s Native American Peter La Farge told it first.

lyrics

(Cho.) Call him drunken Ira Hayes --
He won't answer anymore,
Not the whiskey-drinking Indian
Or the Marine who went to war.
Yes, call him drunken Ira Hayes --
He won't answer anymore,
Not the whiskey-drinking Indian
Or the Marine who went to war.

Gather round me, people, and a story I will tell
About a brave young Indian you should remember well
From the tribe of Pima Indians, a proud and a peaceful band,
They farmed the Phoenix valley in Arizona land.
Down their ditches for a thousand years the sparkling water rushed,
Till the white man stole their water rights and the running water hushed.
Now Ira's folks were hungry, and their farms grew crops of weeds.
But when war came, he volunteered and forgot the white man's greed.
(Cho.)

They started up Iwo Jima hill, two hundred and fifty men,
But only twenty-seven lived to walk back down that hill again.
And when the fight was over and Old Glory raised
Among the men who held it high was the Indian, Ira Hayes.
(Cho.)
Now, Ira returned a hero, celebrated throughout the land
He was wined and speeched and honored, everybody shook his hand.
But he was just a Pima Indian -- no money, no crops, no chance --
And at home nobody cared what Ira'd done, and when do the Indians dance? (Cho)
Then Ira started drinking hard, jail was often his home.
They let him raise the flag there and lower it like you'd 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.
Call him drunken Ira Hayes --
He won't answer anymore,
Not the whiskey-drinking Indian
Or the Marine who went to war.
Yes, call him drunken Ira Hayes,
But his land is still as dry,
And his ghost is lying thirsty
In the ditch where Ira died.
Call him drunken Ira Hayes --
He won't answer anymore,
Not the whiskey-drinking Indian
Or the Marine who went to war.

credits

from GOOD ROAD, released February 15, 2013

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Jack Warshaw UK

Veteran of the 1960s folk revival, he passionately believes, writes and sings with authenticity and respect for traditional American styles and song carriers. He has met, learned from or worked with such legends as Pete, Mike and Peggy Seeger, Tom Paley, Ewan MacColl, Bob Dylan, Mississippi John Hurt, Clarence Ashley, Dave Van Ronk, Stuart Burns and many others. Watch Youtube. Bio on Wikipedia ... more

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