Custer Died For Your Sins - Thank you for the world so
sweet
A beautiful old Floyd Westerman song,
sung here by Daniel Patrick Welch. Look him up--his album for
which this is the title track is still available somewhere.
Incredibly moving lyrics, very apropos for thanksgiving,
modern US history, and any hope for a just world. What follows
is Danny's addition of his mom's Thank You Song, sung
at every meal at The Greenhouse School, which she founded [see
http://www.greenhouseschool.org].
We think it fits.
[Thought folks might like this. The interval between Thanksgiving and Christmas (aka THE Holidays) gives us an opportunity to reflect on the founding mythology of what is now the US. I love this song--I still remember it from a concert about 20 years ago where I went to hear Floyd Westerman sing. Incredible song. I added the Thank You Song at the end in memory of my mom...we still sing the same song today at school before lunch...a ritual she started over 40 years ago. Missing her a lot these days. Love you Ma!
11/26/2009]
For the lies that were spoken
for the blood that we have spilled
for the treaties that were broken
for our leaders you have stilled
Custer died for your sins
Custer died for your sins
Now a new day must begin
Custer died for your sins
For the tribes you terminated
for the myth you keep alive
for the lands you confiscated
for our freedom you deprived
Custer died for your sins...
For the truth that you pollute
for the life that you have cost
for the good you prostitute
and for all that we have lost
Custer died for your sins...
Thank you for the world so sweet
thank you for the food we eat
thank you for the birds that sing
thank you earth for everything
