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Black Elk Speaks

from Migrations by The Littlest Birds

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about

Edited and added to by David Huebner, from the original text by John G. Neihardt

Dave: Dedicated to the Lakota Sioux and Leonard Peltier, and all the Native People of Turtle Island. It should go without saying that I believe Leonard is wrongly imprisoned and should be set free. I suggest reading the book "In The Spirit of Crazy Horse" by Peter Matthiessen, if you want to look deeper into the issue.

Sharon: This is one of the first songs I heard Dave playing when we had barely met, and hadn’t played together. I asked for my lyrics because I found them to be so powerful. When we decided to record it, I asked if I could try playing my French horn as an intro. I had always heard the melody from Stravinsky’s Firebird Suite, Finale, which I had performed decades ago. It’s a simple, bittersweet sounding finale, which is appropriate for the lyrics of the song. I changed the key to match Dave’s song, and it fit. The horn adds this haunting sound, like an army retreating from a battle, where in war, there is never a pleasant ending, only sad memories.

lyrics

My Friends I'll tell you the story of my life if you wish,
but if it were only the story, of my life, I think I would not tell it
For what is one man to make much of his winters,
when so many others men have lived to become grass upon the hills.

But if the vision was true and mighty
As I know it is true and mighty yet
For such things are of the spirit and it is the darkness of their eyes that men forget
So I know it is a good thing but no good can be done alone
I must first send a voice to the spirits of the world.

With visible breath I am walking
A voice I am sending as I walk
In a sacred manner I am walking
In a sacred manner I walk.

I was born a Lakota, in the moon of the Popping Trees
I was named for my father Black Elk, it was 1863
The summer I was nine, I had a Great Vision,
the meaning of which no words can I ever tell to you,
but the six Grandfathers, they gave me the power, they gave me the knowledge
to Heal and to Help.

With visible breath I am walking
A voice I am sending as I walk
In a sacred manner I am walking
In a sacred manner I walk.

I was at the Little Big Horn and I was at Wounded Knee
I did not know how much had ended then but now I can see
The butchered men, women, and children, lying scattered in heaps
Were not the only dead that day, there died a Peoples Dream

So hear me Great Spirit, hear me Grandfathers,
with running tears I must tell to you that your tree has not flowered
Hear me for my people that they may yet return
to living within the sacred hoop, that they sacred tree may yet bloom

In sorrow...I am sending...this feeble voice that I can give...
Ohhhh Six Powers of the World, won't you make my people live.
Ohhhh Six Powers of the World, won't you make my people live.

credits

from Migrations, released October 14, 2011
David Huebner / John G. Neihart / Black Elk Arr. The Littlest Birds

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The Littlest Birds Laramie, Wyoming

The Littlest Birds is the banjo-driven music of and Sharon Martinson, performing both solo concerts and currently with several duo and trio configurations. "Think instrumental virtuosity balanced by a breezy, backwoods soul, music that is both intellectually stimulating and emotionally soothing."
- Dan Bolles, Seven Days Weekly, Burlington VT, 2011
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