My Country Tis of Thy People-Buffy Sainte-Marie

[ti:My Country 'tis of Thy People ] [ar:Buffy Sainte-Marie] [al:Vanguard Visionaries] [by:] [offset:0] [00:00.00]My Country Tis of Thy People - Buffy Sainte-Marie [00:02.15]Now that your big eyes have finally opened [00:08.85]Now that you're wondering how must they feel [00:13.21]Meaning them that you've chased across [00:15.71]America's movie screens [00:19.40]Now that you're wondering how can it be real [00:24.97]That the ones you've called colorful noble and proud [00:30.16]In your school propaganda they starve in their splendor [00:38.51]You've asked for my comment I simply will render [00:45.32]My country 'tis of thy people you're dying [00:57.80]Now that the long houses breed superstition [01:03.80]You force us to send our toddlers away [01:08.93]To your schools where they're taught [01:11.74]To despise their traditions [01:15.24]You forbid them their languages then further say [01:20.62]That American history really began [01:25.62]When Columbus set sail out of Europe [01:30.18]Then stress that the nation of leeches that conquered this land [01:36.86]Are the biggest and bravest and boldest and best [01:42.36]And yet where in your history books is the tale [01:47.55]Of the genocide basic to this country's birth [01:53.36]Of the preachers who lied how the Bill of Rights failed [01:58.92]How a nation of patriots returned to their earth [02:03.99]And where will it tell of the Liberty Bell [02:08.58] [02:09.25]As it rang with a thud o'er Kinzua mud [02:14.75]And of brave Uncle Sam in Alaska this year [02:20.62]My country 'tis of thy people you're dying [02:30.57]Hear how the bargain was made for the West [02:35.75]With her shivering children in zero degrees [02:42.68]Blankets for your land so the treaties attest [02:47.88]Oh well blankets for land is a bargain indeed [02:54.19]And the blankets were those Uncle Sam had collected [03:00.14]From smallpox-diseased dying soldiers that day [03:05.43]And the tribes were wiped out and the history books censored [03:11.37]A hundred years of your statesmen have felt [03:14.68]It's better this way [03:16.99]And yet a few of the conquered have somehow survived [03:23.24]Their blood runs the redder though genes have paled [03:28.45]From the Gran Canyon's caverns to craven sad hills [03:34.39]The wounded the losers the robbed sing their tale [03:39.57]From Los Angeles County to upstate New York [03:45.58]The white nation fattens while others grow lean [03:50.79]Oh the tricked and evicted they know what I mean [03:56.67]My country 'tis of thy people you're dying [04:05.54]The past it just crumbled the future just threatens [04:11.42]Our life blood shut up in your chemical tanks [04:16.61]And now here you come bill of sale in your hands [04:22.42]And surprise in your eyes that we're lacking in thanks [04:28.48]For the blessings of civilization you've brought us [04:34.37]The lessons you've taught us the ruin you've wrought us [04:39.95]Oh see what our trust in America's brought us [04:45.85]My country 'tis of thy people you're dying [04:55.99]Now that the pride of the sires receives charity [05:03.37]Now that we're harmless and safe behind laws [05:10.43]Now that my life's to be known as your 'Heritage' [05:17.99]Now that even the graves have been robbed [05:24.93]Now that our own chosen way is a novelty [05:31.80]Hands on our hearts we salute you your victory [05:37.80] [05:38.51]Choke on your blue white and scarlet hypocrisy [05:45.14]Pitying the blindness that you've never seen [05:50.96]That the eagles of war whose wings lent you glory [05:57.34]They were never no more than carrion crows [06:03.64]Pushed the wrens from their nest [06:06.65]Stole their eggs changed their story [06:10.09]The mockingbird sings it it's all that he knows [06:15.77]"Ah what can I do " say a powerless few [06:21.54]With a lump in your throat and a tear in your eye [06:27.92]Can't you see that their poverty's profiting you [06:35.67]My country 'tis of thy people you're dying