Buffalo
Freedom's Lament: A Journey Without Buffalo
Lyrics
My shadow left my mind and went a walkin' 'round and found a nickel on the ground
Feeling detached or lost, represented by the shadow leaving the mind and discovering a nickel on the ground.
And the buffalo upon one side he got up and walked away
The buffalo, a symbolic figure, leaves, signifying a significant change or departure.
And the indian upon the other side gave out a sigh and said that's better now
The Indian on the other side expresses relief at the buffalo's departure, suggesting a positive change.
Without the buffalo
Emphasizing the absence of the buffalo and its impact.
Without the buffalo x 2
Repetition underscores the significance of the buffalo's absence and its effect on the narrator.
Without the buffalo I'm just and indian
Personal identity is linked to the buffalo; without it, the narrator feels diminished.
I'm free and clear
Feeling liberated and unburdened without the buffalo, expressing a sense of freedom.
The indian went walkin' 'round and sat upon the Hill to watch the sun go down
The Indian watches the sunset, contemplating life, but a sense of loss prevails.
But he couldnt find his people, he got up and walked away
The search for one's people proves futile, leading to further disconnection and departure.
And he sat beside the fire, and gave out a sigh We're all forgotten now
By the fire, the narrator acknowledges being forgotten, expressing a deep sense of abandonment.
Where is my tomahawk
The narrator laments the loss of cultural symbols, like the tomahawk, signifying a fading heritage.
My days are gone
A reflection on bygone days, suggesting a nostalgic yearning for a past that no longer exists.
Where is my tent
The search for personal belongings, like the tent, implies a yearning for stability and roots.
Where is my planting ground
The loss of the planting ground signifies the disruption of traditional ways of life.
Where is my land
The longing for lost land and a sense of displacement on the current reservation.
This reservation's wrong
Critique of the reservation system, expressing dissatisfaction and a sense of injustice.
Whose this white man
Questioning the presence of a white man, possibly a symbol of colonization and its impact.
My people never smile
Observation that the narrator's people have lost their joy, indicating the impact of cultural loss.
Where is my brother
Expressing the absence of familial bonds and connections.
My children ignorant
Concern for the ignorance of the narrator's children, possibly due to cultural erasure.
Where is my squaw
Asking for the whereabouts of the narrator's squaw (wife), suggesting a broken family structure.
Where's my buffalo
The search for the buffalo reflects a desire for cultural and spiritual restoration.
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