As Long as the Grass Shall Grow by Gillian Welch Lyrics
[Intro]
As long as the grass shall grow
As long as the grass shall grow
As long as the grass shall grow
[Verse 1]
Now the Seneca are an Indian tribe of the Iraquios Nation
Down on the New York/Pennsylvania line you'll find their reservation
After the US revolution Cornplanter was their chief, and he told the tribe they could trust these men, 'cause that was his true belief
So he went down to Independence Hall, and there a treaty signed that promised peace with the USA and the Indian rights combined
George Washington gave his signature, and the government gave its hand and said that for now and forevermore, this was Indian land
[Chorus]
As long (As long) as the moon (As the moon shall rise)
As long (As long) as the rivers (as the rivers) flow
As long (As long) as the sun (as the sun) will shine
As long (As long) as the grass (as the grass) shall grow
[Verse 2]
And on the Seneca reservation, there is much sadness now
Washington's treaty's been broken, and there ain't no hope no how
Across the Allegheny River they're throwing up a dam
It'll flood the Indian country and be a proud day for Uncle Sam
It has broke the ancient treaty with a politician's grin
And it'll drown the Indian graveyards; Cornplanter, can you swim?
And though the earth is mother to the Seneca, they're trampling sacred ground and change the good green earth to black muddy flats where honor hobbles down
[Chorus]
As long (As long) as the moon (As the moon shall rise)
As long (As long) as the rivers (as the rivers) flow
As long (As long) as the sun (as the sun) will shine
As long (As long) as the grass (as the grass) shall grow
[Verse 3]
The Iraquois used to rule from Canada to way down South
But no one fears the Indians now and smiles a liars mouth
So the Seneca hired an expert to figure out another site
But the great good army engineer said no, they had no right
Though they showed him another plan, and they showed him another way
He laughed in their face and said 'No deal, Kinuza dam is here to stay'
And Congress turned the Indians down and brushed off their plea
So the Seneca have renamed the dam, and they call the lake Perfidy
[Chorus]
As long (As long) as the moon (As the moon shall rise)
As long (As long) as the rivers (as the rivers) flow
As long (As long) as the sun (as the sun) will shine
As long (As long) as the grass (as the grass) shall grow
[Verse 4]
Though Washington, Adams, and Kennedy now hear their pledges ring
The treaties are safe and we'll keep our word, but what's that a'gurgling?
It's the black water Perfidy lake, it's rising all the time
Over the homes, over the fields, over the promises fine
No boats will sail on Perfidy, and in the winter time it will fill
In the summer it'll be a big ole swamp, and all the fish it'll kill
But the government of the USA's corrected Washington's vow
And the father of our country must have been wrong, what's an Indian, anyhow?
[Outro]
As long (As long) as the moon (as the moon) shall rise
As long (As long) as the rivers (as the rivers) flow
As long (As long) as the sun (as the sun) will shine
As long (As long) as the grass (as the grass) shall grow
As long (As long) as the grass (as the grass) shall grow
As long (As long) as the grass (as the grass) shall grow
As long as the grass shall grow
As long as the grass shall grow
As long as the grass shall grow
[Verse 1]
Now the Seneca are an Indian tribe of the Iraquios Nation
Down on the New York/Pennsylvania line you'll find their reservation
After the US revolution Cornplanter was their chief, and he told the tribe they could trust these men, 'cause that was his true belief
So he went down to Independence Hall, and there a treaty signed that promised peace with the USA and the Indian rights combined
George Washington gave his signature, and the government gave its hand and said that for now and forevermore, this was Indian land
[Chorus]
As long (As long) as the moon (As the moon shall rise)
As long (As long) as the rivers (as the rivers) flow
As long (As long) as the sun (as the sun) will shine
As long (As long) as the grass (as the grass) shall grow
[Verse 2]
And on the Seneca reservation, there is much sadness now
Washington's treaty's been broken, and there ain't no hope no how
Across the Allegheny River they're throwing up a dam
It'll flood the Indian country and be a proud day for Uncle Sam
It has broke the ancient treaty with a politician's grin
And it'll drown the Indian graveyards; Cornplanter, can you swim?
And though the earth is mother to the Seneca, they're trampling sacred ground and change the good green earth to black muddy flats where honor hobbles down
[Chorus]
As long (As long) as the moon (As the moon shall rise)
As long (As long) as the rivers (as the rivers) flow
As long (As long) as the sun (as the sun) will shine
As long (As long) as the grass (as the grass) shall grow
[Verse 3]
The Iraquois used to rule from Canada to way down South
But no one fears the Indians now and smiles a liars mouth
So the Seneca hired an expert to figure out another site
But the great good army engineer said no, they had no right
Though they showed him another plan, and they showed him another way
He laughed in their face and said 'No deal, Kinuza dam is here to stay'
And Congress turned the Indians down and brushed off their plea
So the Seneca have renamed the dam, and they call the lake Perfidy
[Chorus]
As long (As long) as the moon (As the moon shall rise)
As long (As long) as the rivers (as the rivers) flow
As long (As long) as the sun (as the sun) will shine
As long (As long) as the grass (as the grass) shall grow
[Verse 4]
Though Washington, Adams, and Kennedy now hear their pledges ring
The treaties are safe and we'll keep our word, but what's that a'gurgling?
It's the black water Perfidy lake, it's rising all the time
Over the homes, over the fields, over the promises fine
No boats will sail on Perfidy, and in the winter time it will fill
In the summer it'll be a big ole swamp, and all the fish it'll kill
But the government of the USA's corrected Washington's vow
And the father of our country must have been wrong, what's an Indian, anyhow?
[Outro]
As long (As long) as the moon (as the moon) shall rise
As long (As long) as the rivers (as the rivers) flow
As long (As long) as the sun (as the sun) will shine
As long (As long) as the grass (as the grass) shall grow
As long (As long) as the grass (as the grass) shall grow
As long (As long) as the grass (as the grass) shall grow