WWW.AZCHORDS.COM | Townes Van Zandt - Ballad Of Ira Hayes Chords | Ver. 1
[Intro]
C G C
[Verse 1]
C F
Come gather 'round me, people, a story I'd like to tell
G F C
About a brave young Indian, that you should remember well
C F
From a tribe of Pima Indians, a proud and noble band
G F C
Who farmed the Phoenix Valley, down in Arizona land
[Verse 2]
C F
Down their ditches for ten thousand years the sparkling waters rushed
G F C
Then the White Man stole the water rights, and all the running waters hushed
C F
Ira's folks go hungry, their farms grow crops of weeds
G F C
When war came, Ira volunteered; forgot the White Man's greed
[Chorus]
C F
Call him drunken' Ira Hayes, he won't answer anymore
G F C
Not the whiskey drinking Indian, the Marine that went to war
[Verse 3]
C F
They battled up Iwo Jima Hill, two-hundred and fifty men
G F C
Only twenty-seven lived to walk back down again
C F
When that fight was over, when Old Glory raised
G F C
Among the men that held Her high was the Indian, Ira Hayes
[Verse 4]
C F
Well Ira came back a hero, he was celebrated throughout the land
G F C
He was wined and speeched and honored, everybody shook his hand
C F
But he was just a Pima Indian; had no money, no home, no chance
G F C
In Arizona no one cared what Ira had done: just when do the Indians dance?
[Verse 5]
C F
So Ira started drinkin' hard, jail was often his home
G F C
They let him raise the flag and lower it, like you'd throw a dog a bone
C F
Well he died drunk early one morning, all alone in this land he'd fought to save
G F C
Two inches of water in a lonesome ditch was the grave for Ira Hayes
[Chorus]
C F
Call him drunken' Ira Hayes, he won't answer anymore
G F C
Not the whiskey drinking Indian, the Marine that went to war
[Verse 5]
C F
Yeah, call him drunken Ira Hayes, but his land is still as dry
G F C
And his ghost is lyin' thirsty inside the ditch where Ira died
[Outro]
C G C
