As Long As The Grass Shall Grow
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 Iroquios 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 its hand
They said that now and forever more
That this was Indian land
As long as the moon shall rise...
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...
The Iroquios 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...
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 moon shall rise
(look up)
As long as the rivers flow
(are you thirsty)
As long as the sun will shine
(my brother are you warm)
As long as the grass shall grow
