He recorded three albums, beginning in 1984 with a self-titled debut that had a such a strong country flavor that forever after he was most often referred to as a country artist. This may not have been such a problem as country & western has always been one of the most popular Anglo musics among aboriginal people, in Australia as well as the United States. (Down under, Hank Williams is the most-selected artists on aboriginal jukeboxes.) Red Bow's second recorded work, Journey to the Spirit World, remains a favorite of many listeners. It features songs and stories that he remembered learning from his elders and incorporates singing in both English and the Lakota language. His final work was the beautiful, eloquent Black Hills Dreamer, which featured two of his most famous songs, "Run, Indian, Run" and "Indian Love Song." A posthumous collection of favorites from each of these records, Indian Reservation has also been released. Several of his songs were also featured on the soundtrack to Hard Rider, which was not the opposite of Easy Rider, but a documentary on rodeo riders in Alberta and Saskatchewan. He was among the first group of artists to be inducted in the NAMA (Native American Music Awards) Hall of Fame, alongside Jimi Hendrix, who apparently had Cherokee as well as purple haze in his blood.
He has had a few small film parts, such as a walk-on in Thunderheart, but will mostly be remembered in the world of cinema for Pow Wow Highway, in which there is a character named Buddy Red Bow that is partially, if not totally, based on the famous singer. At first considered one of the best films about Native Americans, the film seems to have been the victim of a late critical backlash, in which one writer claimed the depiction of Red Bow made him "cringe." ~ Eugene Chadbourne, All Music Guide
Where's Ben Black Elk Today?
Buddy Red Bow Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Didn't he used to sit here with a smile, take his picture with a child
While all the while you stole his land
Chorus:
Why it seemed just like yesterday that I heard Black Elk say
These here black hills are our land, stolen by the white man
Shrine of democracy, land of the free, but not for you or for me
If they wanted to be so fair, on Mount Rushmore, why isn't the Indian up there.
Sitting Bull, Spotted-Tail, Red Cloud, we'd all be so proud.
In the most sacred land of the Sioux, four faces carved on granite stone
In the midst of a home; in the midst of a home.
Chorus:
Why it seemed just like yesterday that I heard Black Elk say
These here black hills are our land, stolen by the white man
Shrine of democracy, land of the free, but not for you or for me
Pine trees seem to say, Ben Black Elk is gone. Gone to the great beyond.
Back to the buffalo. Back to his people; to his home.
Chorus:
Why it seemed just like yesterday that I heard Black Elk say
These here black hills are our land, stolen by the white man
Shrine of democracy, land of the free, but not for you or for me (Remember that now)
Pine trees seem to say Ben Black Elk is home today
See his shadow on the granite stone; Black Elk has come home
Back to his people; to his land
People can't you here him say, that he's home to stay
These here black hills are his land, stolen by the white man
Shrine of democracy, land of the free, but not for you or for me
Shrine of democracy, land of the free, but not for you or for me (Remember that now)
But not for you or for me
Pine trees seem to say, Ben Black Elk is home to stay
Buddy Red Bow's "Where's Ben Black Elk Today?" is a powerful indictment of the colonial incursions that robbed the indigenous people of their land and freedom. The song searches for Ben Black Elk, a prominent Sioux figure, and wonders where he might be in the midst of all the turmoil taking place outside. The pine trees, constant and unwavering, seem to echo the lament, "Where's Ben Black Elk Today?"
The lyrics surrounding Ben Black Elk's disappearance are tinged with sorrow and indignation. They recall how he used to sit with a smile and take pictures with children while his land was being stolen from under his feet. The chorus speaks to the gravity of the situation: while America proclaims itself the "land of the free," it was far from free for the indigenous people. The irony is not lost that Mount Rushmore, a monument erected to celebrate America's greatness, immortalizes four white men while ignoring the significant contributions of indigenous leaders such as Sitting Bull, Spotted-Tail, and Red Cloud.
The last stanza seems to suggest that Ben Black Elk has returned to his rightful place - among his people, his land, and his history. The pine trees now seem to say that he is home to stay. The song ends with a renewed commitment to remember the injustice committed and the land that was stolen to ensure that it never happens again.
Line by Line Meaning
Pine trees seem to say "Where's Ben Black Elk Today?"
Where has Ben Black Elk gone today? Did he not sit here where the pine trees stand and take pictures with children, while you stole his land?
Didn't he used to sit here with a smile, take his picture with a child
While all the while you stole his land
Ben Black Elk used to sit here with a smile, taking photographs with children, while the stealing of his land continued.
Chorus:
Why it seemed just like yesterday that I heard Black Elk say
These here black hills are our land, stolen by the white man
Shrine of democracy, land of the free, but not for you or for me
Shrine of democracy, land of the free, but not for you or for me
It feels like only yesterday when Ben Black Elk said, 'These black hills are the land of the Sioux, taken away by the white man', in a land called the Shrine of democracy; where it is free, but not for us.
If they wanted to be so fair, on Mount Rushmore, why isn't the Indian up there.
Sitting Bull, Spotted-Tail, Red Cloud, we'd all be so proud.
In the most sacred land of the Sioux, four faces carved on granite stone
In the midst of a home; in the midst of a home.
If they were so just, why wasn't an Indian carved on Mount Rushmore, honouring the likes of Sitting Bull, Spotted-Tail, and Red Cloud? In the sacred Sioux land, four faces are carved in granite stone, which is our home.
Chorus:
Pine trees seem to say, Ben Black Elk is gone. Gone to the great beyond.
Back to the buffalo. Back to his people; to his home.
The pine trees now suggest that Ben Black Elk is not here anymore, but has gone to the afterlife – back to his people, the buffalo and his home.
Chorus:
Pine trees seem to say Ben Black Elk is home today
See his shadow on the granite stone; Black Elk has come home
Back to his people; to his land
Now the pine trees suggest that Ben Black Elk has come home today, and we see his shadow on the granite stone – he is back with his people and his land.
People can't you here him say, that he's home to stay
These here black hills are his land, stolen by the white man
Shrine of democracy, land of the free, but not for you or for me
Shrine of democracy, land of the free, but not for you or for me (Remember that now)
But not for you or for me
Can't you hear him say that he has finally come home and is here to stay? The black hills are his, even though they were stolen by the white man in a land called the Shrine of democracy, which is supposed to be free, but not for him or us. Let us not forget that.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Debs Nelson
I feel honored to have seen Buddy playing in person. As a white gal I respect his messages and feel he should have made it big!! RIP Buddy I believe in your messages, they need to be heard:)
JohnFive Eagles Szuros
I love this music. It resonates within me. All of us Indians have the same experience. Shrine of democracy, Land of the Free. But not for you and me...
1942ann
The seven songs of BRB that you have shared are all great. I am looking forward to hearing the others from this album. Thanks very much.
that one guy
my grandmas favorite songs really wish there was more songs from this album journey to the spiritworld
Lynn Eagle Feather
Beautiful song...My son is a descendant of Black Elk×-
->WoundedKnee73
My favorite Buddy Red Bow song, thanks....
Z BOYS
Rise up and defend your culture and people and your land....I am a white eye ..but I am with you all.
Brandi PoorThunder
Kent Sanderson thank you i honor you're honesty 😊
Maria Decory
he's my grandpa love you grandpa 😘😘😘😘😘😘😘
Skyclad Wanderer
Thats cool, I love reading comments like this where family is proud of their ancestors.
Never forget where you came from.