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Apache Tears Lyrics

Artist: Johnny Cash
Album: Bitter Tears (Ballads Of The American Indian)

Hoof prints and foot prints deep ruts the wagons made
The victor and the loser came by here
No head stones but these bones bring Mascalero death moans
See the smooth black nuggets by the thousands laying here
Petrified but justified are these Apache tears
Dead grass dry roots hunger crying in the night
Ghost of broken hearts and laws are here
And who saw the young squaw they judged by their whiskey law
Tortured till she died of pain and fear
Where the soldiers lay her back are the black Apache tears
The young men the old men the guilty and the innocent
Bled red blood and chilled alike with fears
The red men the white men no fight ever took this land
So don't raise the dust when you pass here
They're sleeping and in my keeping are these Apache tears

Comments/Interpretations

by Victoria M. on 7/24/2008 11:34am
What a heart felt song I've never heard the melody but intend to soon.
My heart goes out to the Indians their struggles battles only to be many times defeated. I pray for the day they rise again in pride and receive recognition.

by Ken K on 10/6/2009 12:47pm
I am Palestinian so I was told, and I can identify with the Indians, read their history as well, for I know pain and displacement.

by shiyi jiang on 11/14/2010 6:50pm
born in china (shanghai)

by jacob webber on 11/14/2010 6:51pm
a short like soccer boy

by holland on 8/1/2012 2:32pm
this is like the israelis taking over the holy land exept the americans were bad the israelis are good and fight in the name of god.

by ron on 9/30/2012 7:55pm
i hope i was right in reading sarcasm into holland's 8/1/12 statement. because the only good in isreal is the debate we don't hear in the mainstream media.

by Hhh on 1/23/2014 10:23pm
One of the greatest songs ever. It's short and simple, but its musical landscape is staggering. So little words, so little notes, but so much emotions.

Trivia: "Apache tears" is an actual type of volcanic glass, obsidian.

Nitpicking: "bring Mascalero death moans" should be "grand Mescalero death mounds".