Who are those ghosts that pass on the plains?
Why do they limp, why are they maimed?
It's the trail of tears
It's the trail of tears.
They called it the Cherokee removal
But the contractors did not care
And they rode in wagons and they walked barefoot
And they walked in the winter air.
Who are those ghosts that pass on the plains?
Why do they limp, why are they maimed?
It's the trail of tears
It's the trail of tears.
They moved an entire Indian nation
From Tennessee and the south
Taking them west to new reservations
And Oklahoma drought.
Who are those ghosts that pass on the plains?
Why do they limp, why are they maimed?
It's the trail of tears
It's the trail of tears.
The contractors did not care how they moved them
So they herded them like cattle
Mile by mile the women and children died
And instead of drums, death rattles.
Who are those ghosts that pass on the plains?
Why do they limp, why are they maimed?
It's the trail. of tears
It's the trail of tears.
They died by tens and hundreds and thousands
Still the march went on
The contractors were going to make a buck
So they forged on.
They got them to Oklahoma
And they settled them down.
And when they got them settled
On Oklahoma's arid soil
There were only a few that had begun
And then that few struck oil.
(Tell me) Who are those ghosts that pass on the plains?
Why do they limp, why are they maimed?
Why do they wander?
Why are they lost?
How much America,
Has this betrayal cost?
Why do they limp, why are they maimed?
It's the trail of tears
It's the trail of tears.
They called it the Cherokee removal
But the contractors did not care
And they rode in wagons and they walked barefoot
And they walked in the winter air.
Who are those ghosts that pass on the plains?
Why do they limp, why are they maimed?
It's the trail of tears
It's the trail of tears.
They moved an entire Indian nation
From Tennessee and the south
Taking them west to new reservations
And Oklahoma drought.
Who are those ghosts that pass on the plains?
Why do they limp, why are they maimed?
It's the trail of tears
It's the trail of tears.
The contractors did not care how they moved them
So they herded them like cattle
Mile by mile the women and children died
And instead of drums, death rattles.
Who are those ghosts that pass on the plains?
Why do they limp, why are they maimed?
It's the trail. of tears
It's the trail of tears.
They died by tens and hundreds and thousands
Still the march went on
The contractors were going to make a buck
So they forged on.
They got them to Oklahoma
And they settled them down.
And when they got them settled
On Oklahoma's arid soil
There were only a few that had begun
And then that few struck oil.
(Tell me) Who are those ghosts that pass on the plains?
Why do they limp, why are they maimed?
Why do they wander?
Why are they lost?
How much America,
Has this betrayal cost?
Contributed by The Lone Ranger - 2010/5/17 - 08:04
"E’ bene ricordare che Peter La Farge era di sangue nativo, discendendo dalla tribù algonquina dei Narragansett del Rhode Island."
La Farge indeed claimed at times to be descended from the Nargaset Indian tribe, although this is not proven. [https://www.riseupsinging.org/artistcomposer/peter-la-farge]
But La Farge claimed also to be of Hopi heritage, as Johnny Cash wrote in his autobiography. La Farge in fact loved to tell stories, as it seems about himself as well: he faked his native origins, although he did not fake his profound research and empathy for the fate of the native people. Yuval Taylor, cowriter with Hugh Baker of 'Faking It: The Quest for Authenticity in Popular Music' (Norton, 2007), came at least to that conclusion after having specifically researched the topic. See the fascinating portrait of La Farge he wrote on their common blog 'Faking it' at this address:
Here Come the Indians, Part Four- by Yuval Taylor
La Farge indeed claimed at times to be descended from the Nargaset Indian tribe, although this is not proven. [https://www.riseupsinging.org/artistcomposer/peter-la-farge]
But La Farge claimed also to be of Hopi heritage, as Johnny Cash wrote in his autobiography. La Farge in fact loved to tell stories, as it seems about himself as well: he faked his native origins, although he did not fake his profound research and empathy for the fate of the native people. Yuval Taylor, cowriter with Hugh Baker of 'Faking It: The Quest for Authenticity in Popular Music' (Norton, 2007), came at least to that conclusion after having specifically researched the topic. See the fascinating portrait of La Farge he wrote on their common blog 'Faking it' at this address:
Here Come the Indians, Part Four- by Yuval Taylor
Pierre-André Lienhard - 2025/7/17 - 01:09
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Album “As Long as the Grass Shall Grow: Peter La Farge Sings of the Indians”, Folkways Records
Forse la più bella delle diverse canzoni omonime (The Trail of Tears di Guy Carawan e Trail of Tears di John Denver) dedicate alla deportazione delle cosiddette “Five Civilized Tribes” indiane dal sud degli USA in Oklahoma, tra il 1830 e il 1840.
E’ bene ricordare che Peter La Farge era di sangue nativo, discendendo dalla tribù algonquina dei Narragansett del Rhode Island.