Chapter 5
Now That the Buffalo’s Gone

                                         Buffy Sainte-Marie

                                    © Gypsy Boy Music-SOCAN

This song was on my first album and I'd have thought it would be obsolete by now. But governments are still breaking promises and stealing indigenous lands, and I still believe that informed people can help make things better.

 Can you remember the times

 That you have held your head high

 and told all your friends of your Indian claim

 Proud good lady and proud good man

 Some great great grandfather from Indian blood came

 and you feel in your heart for these ones

 Oh it's written in books and in song

 that we've been mistreated and wronged

 Well over and over I hear those same words

 from you good lady and you good man

 Well listen to me if you care where we stand

 and you feel you're a part of these ones

 When a war between nations is lost

 the loser we know pays the cost

 but even when Germany fell to your hands

consider dear lady, consider dear man

 you left them their pride and you left them their land

 and what have you done to these ones

 Has a change come about my dear man

 or are you still taking our lands

 A treaty forever your senators sign

 They do dear lady, they do dear man

 and the treaties are broken again and again

 and what will you do for these ones

 Oh it's all in the past you can say

 but it's still going on here today

 The governments now want the Navaho land

 that of the Inuit and the Cheyenne

 It's here and it's now you can help us dear man

 Now that the buffalo's gone.

Go back to "Up Where We Belong" album song list

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