The Ballad of Ira Hayes
Peter La Farge
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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 sparkin' 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 drunkin' Ira Hayes He won't answer anymore Not the whiskey drinkin' Indian Nor the Marine that went to war 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 do 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 early drunk one mornin' Alone in the land he 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 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
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11 facts about this song
Song Origin"The Ballad of Ira Hayes" was originally written and performed by Peter La Farge.
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Folk Music GenreThe song belongs to the folk genre, often viewed as a protest song due to its strong commentary on American society's treatment of indigenous people.
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Inspiration for the SongThe song is about Ira Hayes, a Pima Native American, who raised the flag at Iwo Jima during World War II. After the war, Hayes struggled with alcoholism and tragically died alone in a ditch, highlighting the struggles faced by veterans after returning from the war.
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Photo SequenceThe iconic photo sequence of six US soldiers raising the U.S. flag on Iwo Jima inspired La Farge to compose the song. Hayes was among the men captured in that historic photograph.
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Public ReceptionAlthough the song initially received limited commercial success, it became a hit when Johnny Cash re-recorded it in 1964, subsequently reaching number three on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart.
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Cultural Impact"The Ballad of Ira Hayes" has been widely recognized for its cultural significance, with Bob Dylan calling it one of the songs that inspired him early in his career.
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Covers of the SongThe song has been covered by numerous artists, including Townes Van Zandt, Kinky Friedman, and Pete Seeger, reflecting its enduring impact on popular music.
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Political StatementThe song has often been used as a political statement, highlighting the often overlooked mistreatment of Native Americans and veterans by American society.
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Inclusion in Album"The Ballad of Ira Hayes" was included in Peter La Farge's 1962 album, "As Long as the Grass Shall Grow: Peter La Farge Sings of the Indians."
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Use in FilmThe song was used in the 1955 film "To Hell and Back" starring Audie Murphy, as well as the 2006 World War II miniseries "The Pacific," underscoring its ongoing relevance in popular media.
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Critique of American Society"The Ballad of Ira Hayes" is a powerful example of La Farge's work, which often critiqued American society and expressed solidarity with marginalized groups.
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Citation
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"The Ballad of Ira Hayes Lyrics." Lyrics.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 5 Jun 2024. <https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/4053730/Peter+La+Farge/The+Ballad+of+Ira+Hayes>.
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