Johnny Cash

Lyrics The ballad of ira hayes Johnny Cash

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The ballad of ira hayes


Ira Hayes,
Ira Hayes

Call him drunken Ira Hayes
He won't answer anymore
Not the whiskey drinkin' Indian
Nor the Marine that went to war

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 Indian
A proud and noble band
Who farmed the Phoenix valley in Arizona land

Down the ditches for a thousand years
The water grew Ira's peoples' crops
'Till the white man stole the water rights
And the sparklin' water stopped

Now Ira's folks were hungry
And their land 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
Nor the Marine that went to war

There they battled up Iwo Jima's hill,
Two hundred and fifty men
But only twenty-seven lived to walk back down again

And when the fight was over
And when Old Glory raised
Among the men who held it high
Was the Indian, Ira Hayes

Call him drunken Ira Hayes
He won't answer anymore
Not the whiskey drinkin' Indian
Nor the Marine that went to war

Ira 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 crops, no chance
At home nobody cared what Ira'd done
And when did the Indians dance

Call him drunken Ira Hayes
He won't answer anymore
Not the whiskey drinkin' Indian
Nor the Marine that went to war

Then Ira started drinkin' hard;
Jail was often his home
They'd let him raise the flag and lower it
like you'd throw a dog a bone!

He died drunk one mornin'
Alone in the land he fought to save
Two inches of water in a lonely ditch
Was a grave for Ira Hayes

Call him drunken Ira Hayes
He won't answer anymore
Not the whiskey drinkin' Indian
Nor the Marine that went to war

Yeah, call him drunken Ira Hayes
But his land is just as dry
And his ghost is lyin' thirsty
In the ditch where Ira died

Thank you because you correct this lyrics
 
The lyrics THE BALLAD OF IRA HAYES of JOHNNY CASH is also present in the album 16 biggest hits (1999)

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Biografia

Johnny Cash (Kingsland, Arkansas, February 26, 1932 – Nashville, Tennessee, September 12, 2003) was an American singer, musician, and actor widely considered one of the most influential figures in country music. Born into a poor farming family in the Deep South, Cash began singing in his local church and listening to country music on the radio. After serving in the military in Germany, where he learned to play guitar, he moved to Memphis and launched his musical career. His unique style, characterized by a deep baritone voice and often autobiographical lyrics that addressed themes of poverty, social justice, and addiction struggles, quickly made him popular. Among his most famous songs are "Ring of Fire", "I Walk the Line", "Folsom Prison Blues", and "A Boy Named Sue". Cash collaborated with numerous artists, including June Carter Cash, his wife from 1968 until his death. He won numerous awards, including the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 1997. His music continues to be enjoyed by generations of fans worldwide.

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