Apache
Johnny and The G-Men Lyrics
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The victor and the loser came by here
No head stones but these bones bring Mascalero death moans
See the smooth black nuggets by the thousands laying here
Petrified but justified are these Apache tears
Dead grass dry roots hunger crying in the night
Ghost of broken hearts and laws are here
And who saw the young squaw they judged by their whiskey law
Tortured 'til she died of pain and fear
Where the soldiers lay her back are the black Apache tears
The young men the old men the guilty and the innocent
Bled red blood and chilled alike with fears
The red men the white men no fight ever took this land
So don't raise the dust when you pass here
They're sleeping and in my keeping are these Apache tears
The lyrics to Johnny and The G-Men's song "Apache" explore the history of violence and injustice inflicted upon the Apache people by white settlers and soldiers. Describing the physical evidence of conflict and death, the lyrics mention footprints and hoof prints left behind by those who came before. The bones and black nuggets represent the lives lost and the valuable resources taken from the Apache people. The tears of the Apache people are justified and immortalized as part of the land itself, even though the grass may be dead and the roots dry.
The lyrics go on to describe the ghosts of broken hearts and laws that haunt the land, referencing the unjust treatment of a young Apache woman by soldiers who judged her according to their own laws rather than those of her people. The pain and fear she suffered until death at the hands of her captors is commemorated in the black tears that stain the earth where she was laid to rest. The song ends on a somber note, referencing the fact that both guilty and innocent men lost their lives in this conflict. The land itself is a solemn reminder of the violence that occurred and the people who were affected by it.
Overall, the lyrics of "Apache" serve as a powerful reminder of the injustices faced by the Apache people and other indigenous communities at the hands of settlers and soldiers. The imagery and symbolism used throughout the song help to create a vivid portrait of the landscape and its history.
Line by Line Meaning
Hoof prints and foot prints deep ruts the wagons made
The sign of the victor and loser, their wagons leaving deep marks on the ground as they passed through here.
No head stones but these bones bring Mascalero death moans
No grave markers, but the bones here bring back memories of the death cries of those from the Mascalero tribe.
See the smooth black nuggets by the thousands laying here
There are thousands of dark, smooth stones covering the ground here.
Petrified but justified are these Apache tears
These tears shed by the Apache have turned to stone, but they were justified in their grief
Dead grass dry roots hunger crying in the night
The grass and roots are dead, and the only sound at night is the sound of hunger.
Ghost of broken hearts and laws are here
The ghosts of broken hearts and justice linger in this place.
And who saw the young squaw they judged by their whiskey law
They judged a young squaw according to the laws they made while drinking whiskey.
Tortured 'til she died of pain and fear
They tortured her to the point of death, causing her immense pain and fear.
Where the soldiers lay her back are the black Apache tears
The soldiers left behind a trail of black stones where they laid her back.
The young men the old men the guilty and the innocent
Everyone was affected, regardless of age or innocence.
Bled red blood and chilled alike with fears
They all bled red and all felt fear on this land.
The red men the white men no fight ever took this land
Neither the red men nor white men ever truly owned this land through fighting.
So don't raise the dust when you pass here
Please be reverent as you pass through this sacred place.
They're sleeping and in my keeping are these Apache tears
The Apache are resting, and the tears of the dead are now in my possession.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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