Johnny Cash - As Long As the Grass Shall Grow lyrics

As long as the moon shall rise
As long as the rivers flow
As long as the sun will shine as
Long as the grass shall grow

The Senecas are an Indian tribe
Of the Iroquois nation
Down on the New York Pennsylvania
Line you'll find their reservation
After the US revolution Cornplanter
Was a chief
He told the tribe these men they could
Trust that was his true belief
He went down to Independence Hall and
There was a treaty signed
That promised peace with the USA
And Indian rights combined
George Washington gave his signature the
Government gave it's hand
They said that now and forever more
That this was Indian land

As long as the moon shall rise
As long as the rivers flow
As long as the sun will shine as
Long as the grass shall grow

On the Seneca reservation there
Is much sadness now
Washington's treaty has been
Broken and there is no hope no how
Across the Allegheny River they're
Throwing up a dam
It will flood the Indian country a
Proud day for Uncle Sam
It has broke the ancient treaty
With a politician's grin
It will drown the Indians graveyards
Cornplanter can you swim
The earth is mother to the
Senecas they're trampling sacred ground
Change the mint green earth to black
Mud flats as honor hobbles down

As long as the moon shall rise
As long as the rivers flow
As long as the sun will shine as
Long as the grass shall grow

The Iroquois Indians used to rule
From Canada way south
But no one fears the Indians now
And smiles the liar's mouth
The Senecas hired an expert
To figure another site
But the great good army engineers said
That he had no right
Although he showed them another plan
And showed them another way
They laughed in his face and said no
Deal Kinzua dam is here to stay
Congress turned the Indians down brushed
Off the Indians plea
So the Senecas have renamed the dam
They call it Lake Perfidy

As long as the moon shall rise
As long as the rivers flow
As long as the sun will shine as
Long as the grass shall grow

Washington, Adams
And Kennedy now hear their pledges ring
The treaties are safe we'll keep our
Word but what is that gurgling
It's the back water from Perfidy Lake
It's rising all the time
Over the homes and over the fields
And over the promises fine
No boats will sail on Lake Perfidy
In winter it will fill
In summer it will be a swamp
And all the fish will kill
But the Government of the USA
Has corrected George's vow
The father of our country must be
Wrong what's an Indian anyhow

As long as the grass shall grow