Jon Michael Talbot founded the Christian/Catholic order "Brothers and Sisters of Charity".
Buffalo
Mason Proffit Lyrics
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And the buffalo upon one side he got up and walked away
And the indian upon the other side gave out a sigh and said that's better now
Without the buffalo
Without the buffalo x 2
Without the buffalo I'm just and indian
I'm free and clear
The indian went walkin' 'round and sat upon the Hill to watch the sun go down
And he sat beside the fire, and gave out a sigh We're all forgotten now
Where is my tomahawk
My days are gone
Where is my tent
Where is my planting ground
Where is my land
This reservation's wrong
Whose this white man
My people never smile
Where is my brother
My children ignorant
Where is my squaw
Where's my buffalo
The song "Buffalo" by Mason Proffit speaks on the displacement of Native Americans and their struggle to adjust to life without the buffalo. The opening lines describe the singer essentially shedding his worries and finding a small sense of good fortune in finding a nickel on the ground. The disappearance of the buffalo, however, is bittersweet. While it may symbolize the end of the Native American way of life as they knew it, it also signals a newfound freedom from the dependence on the animal.
The second half of the song delves deeper into the singer's feelings of loss and displacement. The references to missing objects such as the tomahawk, the tent, and the planting ground signpost the pervasive cultural loss that Native Americans have experienced. The singer's feeling that "this reservation's wrong" suggests that the forced relocation of many tribes onto reservations proved inadequate in helping them hold onto their way of life.
Overall, "Buffalo" speaks to the intense loss and hardship that Native Americans experienced throughout the colonization and settlement of the United States. The disappearance of the buffalo signified a major shift for many tribes, as it marked the destruction of their food source and the loss of an animal that held deep cultural and spiritual significance. The singer's feelings of displacement and loss of cultural identity highlight the pervasive and centuries-long trauma inflicted upon Native people.
Line by Line Meaning
My shadow left my mind and went a walkin' 'round and found a nickel on the ground
I lost touch with reality and my inner self, but found a small fortune through materialism
And the buffalo upon one side he got up and walked away
The symbol of my culture and identity has disappeared, leaving me feeling lost and incomplete
And the indian upon the other side gave out a sigh and said that's better now
After losing the buffalo, I am now free from expectations and responsibilities that I didn't want
Without the buffalo
My connection to my heritage and sense of belonging is gone
Without the buffalo x 2
Reiterating the importance of the buffalo in defining the artist's identity
Without the buffalo I'm just and indian
Losing the buffalo means losing the essence of who I am
I'm free and clear
Despite the loss, the singer is now free from the expectations and burden of their culture and identity
The indian went walkin' 'round and sat upon the Hill to watch the sun go down
The artist reflects on their loss and confusion while seeking solace in nature
But he couldnt find his people, he got up and walked away
The artist feels alone and disconnected from their community and heritage
And he sat beside the fire, and gave out a sigh We're all forgotten now
The artist mourns the loss of their culture and history, feeling that it has been forgotten by the world
Where is my tomahawk
The singer is searching for physical items that represent their culture and identity
My days are gone
The artist feels that their time is up and their culture is dying
Where is my tent
The singer is searching for the comforts and symbols of their culture
Where is my planting ground
The singer feels that their connection to the land and nature has been lost
Where is my land
The singer feels that their ownership and connection to the land has been taken away
This reservation's wrong
The artist feels that the reservation system has stripped them of their culture and independence
Whose this white man
The artist is questioning the presence and influence of the white man on their culture and land
My people never smile
The singer feels that their people have lost their happiness and contentment with the world
Where is my brother
The singer is searching for familial and communal connections
My children ignorant
The artist fears that their children are growing up without a true understanding and connection to their heritage
Where is my squaw
The artist is searching for their partner and a source of comfort and love
Where's my buffalo
The artist continues to mourn the loss of their culture and identity, symbolized by the buffalo
Lyrics © MUSIC SERVICES, INC.
Written by: JOHN MICHAEL TALBOT, TERRY NOLAN TALBOT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind