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05 Nez Perce: Promises - The Marks of Change (Live)
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| Description |
Short Song Description:
In Hailey, ID 7-15-12
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| Metadata |
Song Length:
| 4:47 |
Primary Genre:
| Classical-Contemporary |
Secondary Genre:
| - |
| Lyrics |
NARRATOR
Even as they pondered
this new god,
there came
more pale men
some who
demanded Nez Perce lands for farms
others men in uniforms with guns
then government men
with papers -
filled with marks across pages
the Nimiipu could not read
anymore than they could read
the God Book.
CHORUS
The words promised
safety
and lands
only for
the Nez Perce
a treaty,
a promise -
if the people signed.
The great chiefs gathered
in eighteen fifty-five -
agreed
without joy.
What significance these words
in the God book
in the treaty papers
The strangers still came
Now blinded by dreams of gold
They were everywhere
Eight years later
As many
as "blades of grass"
or "leaves on trees."
Said Old Joseph
With fear in his voice
NARRATOR
Then they came again
These outsiders
With new papers.
New promises.
The seven million acres
now changed to a tiny spot
on the map.
CHORUS
"Thievery"
"Thievery"
and would not sign
away their lands.
And later Young Joseph said:
"It does not require many words
to speak the truth"
Itkytimse, Itkytimse
to speak the truth
It does not require many words.
NARRATOR
Only several chiefs joined Lawyer
To sign the pages.
But it was enough marks
for the white Father in Washington
and his congress
to steal these lands from its people
many mountains and rivers distant.
CHORUS
Lawyer, Lawyer,
How could you speak
for all the Nez Perce
without them by your side.
What was in your heart?
NARRATOR
Even as they pondered
this new god,
there came
more pale men
some who
demanded Nez Perce lands for farms
others men in uniforms with guns
then government men
with papers -
filled with marks across pages
the Nimiipu could not read
anymore than they could read
the God Book.
CHORUS
The words promised
safety
and lands
only for
the Nez Perce
a treaty,
a promise -
if the people signed.
The great chiefs gathered
in eighteen fifty-five -
agreed
without joy.
What significance these words
in the God book
in the treaty papers
The strangers still came
Now blinded by dreams of gold
They were everywhere
Eight years later
As many
as "blades of grass"
or "leaves on trees."
Said Old Joseph
With fear in his voice
NARRATOR
Then they came again
These outsiders
With new papers.
New promises.
The seven million acres
now changed to a tiny spot
on the map.
CHORUS
"Thievery" the chiefs muttered
"Thievery"
and would not sign
away their lands.
And later Young Joseph said:
"It does not require many words
to speak the truth"
NARRATOR
Only several chiefs joined Lawyer
To sign the pages.
But it was enough marks
for the white Father in Washington
and his congress
to steal these lands from its people
many mountains and rivers distant.
CHORUS
Lawyer, Lawyer,
How could you speak
for all the Nez Perce
without them by your side.
What was in your heart?
"It does not require many words
to speak the truth"
Itkytimse, Itkytimse
to speak the truth
It does not require many words. |
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