
Western Song: Ballad of Ira Hayes
The Ballad of Ira Hayes is a song written by folksinger and songwriter Peter La Farge. Its words tell the story of Ira Hayes, one of six sailors who became famous for raising the United States flag on Mount Suribachi during the Battle of Iwo Jima in World War II. Members of the Western Writers of America voted it as one of the Top 100 Western songs of all time.
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About the Song
In the song, La Farge introduces the Pima Indians, a tribe that occupies an oasis in the Arizona desert. He then said that when the United States began settling the area in the late 19th century, “white men stole their water rights and stopped sparkling water,” putting poverty on the tribe.
The song introduces Hayes, who volunteered for the U.S. Marine Corps and participates in raising the flag on Iwo Jima.
When Hayes returns home, he faces discomfort and resentment. Even attempts by Americans to honor Hayes are treated with disrespect in La Farge’s lyrics. Rejected even by his own people, Ira fell into alcoholism and died drunk in a ditch. La Farge again used the death of Hayes to note the current plight of the Pimas.
Popular Recordings
The song has been recorded several times. The most famous version is recorded by Johnny Cash that reached number three on the Billboard Country Singles chart in 1964. Some of the other notable versions are done by:
- Patrick Sky
- Hamilton Camp
- Pete Seeger
- Townes Van Zandt
- Smiley Bates
- Bob Dylan
- Kinky Friedman
- Hazel Dickens
- Kris Kristofferson
Ballad of Ira Hayes In Albums
The song has also been released in the tracklist of the following albums:
- Bitter Tears
- Welcome to Hamilton Camp
- Broadside Ballads
- Songs of Life
- Self Portrait
- Lasso from El Paso
- From the Sweat of my Brow
Listen (Johnny Cash Version)
Ballad of Ira Hayes Lyrics
Ira Hayes Ira Hayes Call him drunken Ira Hayes He won't answer anymore Not the whiskey drinking Indian Or the marine that went to war Gather 'round me people There's a story I would tell 'Bout 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 land Down the ditches a thousand years The waters grew Ira's peoples' crops 'Til the white man stole their water rights And the sparkling water stopped Now, Ira's folks were hungry And their land grew crops of weeds When war came, Ira volunteered And forgot the white man's greed Call him drunken Ira Hayes He won't answer anymore Not the whiskey drinking Indian Or the marine that went to war There they battled up Iwo Jima hill Two hundred and fifty men But only twenty-seven lived To walk back down again And when the fight was over And Old Glory raised Among the men who held it high Was the Indian, Ira Hayes Call him drunken Ira Hayes He won't answer anymore Not the whiskey drinking Indian Or the marine that went to war Ira Hayes returned a hero Celebrated through the land He was wined and speeched and honored Everybody shook his hand But 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 dance Call him drunken Ira Hayes He won't answer anymore Not the whiskey drinking Indian Or the marine that went to war Then Ira started drinking hard Jail was often his home They let him raise the flag and lower it Like you'd throw a dog a bone He died drunk early one morning Alone in the land he fought to save Two inches of water and a lonely ditch Was a grave for Ira Hayes Call him drunken Ira Hayes He won't answer anymore Not the whiskey drinking Indian Or the marine that went to war Yeah, call him drunken Ira Hayes But his land is just as dry And his ghost is lying thirsty In the ditch where Ira died