When buffalo went away
my people’s hearts fell to the ground
They couldn’t lift them up again
There’s little singing anywhere
A long time ago
this land belonged to our fathers
But when I go up to the river
I see a camp of soldiers
They are cutting my wood down
or killing my buffalo
And when I see it my heart feels
like bursting with sorrow

A cold wind blew across the prairie
A death wind for my people
These were the words of Sitting Bull
when the last buffalo fell down
But it was all planned before
by the government of the USA

Kill every buffalo you can
Every one’s an Indian gone
Send them powder and lead
for the sake of a lasting peace
Let them kill, skin and sell hides
Give every man a medal of bronze
A dead buffalo on one side
discouraged Indian on the other
Soldiers at Fort Kearney
fired cannons into herds
The weather turned warm
The air was foul with a sickening stench

Has the white man become a child
Great Kiowa chief Satanta asked
When the red men slay game
they do so that they may live not starve
But it was all planned before
by the generals of the USA




Train is leaving Fort Hays Kansas
A three-day buffalo excursion
Ladies and gentlemen of West
hunting by rail for ten bucks
Train is slowed to a rate of speed
equal of the herd
Rifles sticking out of windows
platforms and roofs of the cars
American gentlemen shooting
buffalos just for fun
Ladies enjoying the new sport
Carcasses rot in the prairie sun

Whatever happens to the beast
will also happen to the sons of the earth
All things are connected
Chief Seattle he could see
But it was all planned before
by the white wise men of the USA