Ballad of Ira Hayes Lyrics

Ira Hayes, Ira HayesCall him drunken Ira Hayes
He won't answer anymore
Not the whiskey drinkin' Indian
Nor the Marine that went to warGather '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 landDown the ditches for a thousand years
The water grew Ira's people's crops
Till the white man stole their water rights
And the sparklin' water stoppedNow Ira's folks were hungry
And their land grew crops of weeds
When war came, Ira volunteered
And forgot the white man's greedCall him drunken Ira Hayes
He won't answer anymore
Not the whiskey drinkin' Indian
Nor the Marine that went to warThere they battled up Iwo Jima's hill
Two hundred and fifty men
But only twenty seven lived

To walk back down againAnd when the fight was over
And 'Old Glory' raised
Among the men who held it high
Was the Indian, Ira HayesCall him drunken Ira Hayes
He won't answer anymore
Not the whiskey drinkin' Indian
Nor the Marine that went to warIra Hayes returned a hero
Celebrated through the land
He was wined and speeched and honored
Everybody shook his handBut he was just a Pima Indian
No water, no home, no chance
At home nobody cared what Ira'd done
And when did the Indians danceCall him drunken Ira Hayes
He won't answer anymore
Not the whiskey drinkin' Indian
Nor the Marine that went to warThen 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 early one mornin'
Alone in the land he fought to save
Two inches of water in a lonely ditch
Was a grave for Ira HayesCall him drunken Ira Hayes
He won't answer anymore
Not the whiskey drinkin' Indian
Nor the Marine that went to warYeah, call him drunken Ira Hayes
But his land is just as dry
And his ghost is lyin' thirsty
In the ditch where Ira died