The Ballad of Ira Hayes – English Lyrics

• By: Johnny Cash

Lyrics & Translation

Embark on a powerful journey through history and emotion with Johnny Cash's "The Ballad of Ira Hayes." This compelling folk ballad offers a unique opportunity to connect with American history and Native American experiences through heartfelt storytelling. Learn to appreciate how Cash's simple yet profound language conveys complex themes of heroism, injustice, and the human condition, making it a special song for understanding English vocabulary related to history, social issues, and deep emotional expression. Its clear narrative and impactful lyrics make it an excellent choice for language learners seeking meaningful and historically rich content.

[English]

Ira Hayes

Ira Hayes

Call him drunken Ira Hayes

He won't answer anymore

Not the whiskey drinkin' Indian

Nor the Marine that went to war

Gather '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 land

Down their ditches of a thousand years, the water grew Ira's people's crops

Till 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 drinkin' Indian

Nor the Marine that went to war

There they battled up Iwo Jima's 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 drinkin' Indian

Nor 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 drinkin' Indian

Nor the Marine that went to war

Then 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 Hayes

Call him drunken Ira Hayes

He won't answer anymore

Not the whiskey drinkin' Indian

Nor 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