Language   

Mountain Meadows Massacre

Anonymous
Language: English


List of versions



Una canzone, risalente alla seconda metà del'800, di cui esistono varie versioni, così come risulta dai testi trovati su Folk & Traditional Song Lyrics e sulla Max Hunter Folk Song Collection dell'Umiversità del Missouri


Quando qualcuno vuole convincervi che coloro che sono stati perseguitati non possono che essere buoni con il prossimo, non dategli retta... pensate ai tanti ebrei d'Israele che volentieri cancellerebbero i palestinesi dalla nostra galassia (e mica lo desiderano solo gli ultraortodossi o quelli che votano Likud...)
... oppure pensate a quello che fecero nel 1857 in Utah gli adepti della religione della "Chiesa di Gesù Cristo dei Santi degli Ultimi Giorni", ossia i buonissimi Mormoni...

Vero, i Mormoni all'epoca erano perseguitati... il loro profeta Joseph Smith era stato linciato insieme al fratello solo qualche anno prima. Il successore Brigham Young, novello Mosè, aveva portato i suoi fratelli in salvo nell'Utah, sulle Montagne Rocciose, e lì aveva rifondato uno Stato confessionale proclamandolo indipendente... Ovviamente, il presidente degli USA di allora, James Buchanan, aveva subito spedito i federali a ripristinare la propria autorità con la forza. A un certo punto in mezzo ai due contendenti - che si fronteggiavano a Mountain Meadows, Utah - si trovò un treno di emigranti dall'Arkansas che solo passavano di lì per andare in California... Saranno stati i bagliori di guerra, sarà stato il nervosismo, sarà stata qualche predica millenaristica di troppo, sarà stato il sentimento di sincera ospitalità che spesso viene avvertito verso gli stranieri, fatto sta che la milizia mormone prima disarmò i migranti con l'inganno e subito dopo, con il valido aiuto di bande di tagliagole nativi Paiute, fecero a pezzi la carovana trucidando uomini, donne e bambini indifesi... Bilancio: circa 140 morti.

La prima versione della canzone è quella cantata da tale George Harter e conservata presso la Libreria del Congresso degli USA.
Come all you sons of liberty, unto my rhyme give ear
'Tis of the bloody massacree you presently shall hear
In splendor o'er the mountains some thirty wagons came
They were awaited by a wicked band, oh Utah, bear the blame!

In Indian colors all wrapped in shame this bloody crew was seen
To flock around this little train all on the meadows green
They were attacked in the morning as they were on their way
They forthwith corralled their wagons and fought in blood array

Till came the captain of the band, he surely did deceive
Saying, "If you will give up your arms we'll surely let you live."
When once they had give up their arms, thinking their lives to save
The words were broken among the rest which sent them to their graves.

When once they had give up their arms they started for Cedar City
They rushed on them in Indian style, oh what a human pity!
They melted down with one accord like wax before the flame,
Both men and women, old and young, oh Utah!, where's thy shame?

Both men and women, old and young, a-rolling in their gore
And such an awful sight and scene was ne'er beheld before
Their property was divided among this bloody crew
And Uncle Sam is bound to see this bloody matter through.

The soldiers will be stationed throughout this Utah land
All for to find those murderers out and bring them to his hands.
By order from their president, this bloody deed was done
He was the leader of the Mormon Church, his name was Brigham Young.

Contributed by Alessandro - 2009/10/5 - 23:23




Language: English

Versione inglese come cantata da Tom Aley, Ozark, Missouri, 1969.
Come all you sons of liberty
An' to my rhyme give ear
T'is of a bloody massacre
You presently shall hear
In th splendor of a mountain sight
Forty wagons came
And they were attack-ed by an evil band
O, Utah where's they shame

In Indian colors, all dressed in shame
This bloody band was seen
All for t' attack that wagon train
On Mountain Meadows green
They a'ttacked them in broad daylight
As they were on their way
They soon around their wagons all
An' fought in brave arae

Then Lee, th leader of th band
To them his word did give
That if they would give up their arms
He'd surely let them live
An' when they had give up their arms
They'd gain their lives to save
Th word was passed among th ranks
That sent them to their graves

And when they had give up their arms
They started for Cedar City
They decended on them in Indian style
O, what a human pity
They melted down with one accord
Like wax before th flame
Both men an' women, young an' old
O, Utah where's they shame

Both men an' women, young an' old
A lie'n in their gore
And such an awful sight an' sound
T'was n'er beheld before
Their property was divided
Among th bloody crew
And Uncle Sam is bound t' see
This bloody matter through

His soldiers must be stationed
Through out this Utah land
All for t' seek those muder'ers out
An' bring them to his hand
By order of their President
This evil deed was done
He was th leader of th Morman Church
His name is Brigham Young

Contributed by Alessandro - 2009/10/5 - 23:24




Language: English

Versione come cantata da Joan O'Bryant, Wichita, Kansas, 1959.
Come, all ya sons of freedom
And to my song give ear
About a bloody massacre
You very soon, shall hear
Across th Zion Mountains
Some twenty wagons came
Surrounded by an angel band
And Utah bears th blame

T'was on th mountain meadows
This wagon train was seen
Surrounded by th wicked band
All on th meadows green
The avenging angels caught them
As they got under way
Th men corraled th wagon train
And fought in blood all day

Then Lee, the angels leader
To them his words did give
If they'd surrender all their guns
He'd surely let them live
Their guns, they gave to angel Lee
T'ward Cedar they did go
They were attacked in Injun style
And gentile blood did flow

They melted down with one accord
Like wax before a flame
Men and women, young and old
And Utah bears th blame
At th order of old Brigham Young
This deed was done, you see
And th leader of that wicked band
Was, Captain John D. Lee

Contributed by Alessandro - 2009/10/5 - 23:26




Main Page

Please report any error in lyrics or commentaries to antiwarsongs@gmail.com

Note for non-Italian users: Sorry, though the interface of this website is translated into English, most commentaries and biographies are in Italian and/or in other languages like French, German, Spanish, Russian etc.




hosted by inventati.org