Songs of the Ghost Dance Religion
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“Songs of the Ghost Dance Religion.” Internet Sacred Text Archive. Read via Sacred Texts Reader. https://sacred-texts.xyz/browse/nam/por/por19.htm
The Path on the Rainbow, edited by George W. Cronyn, [1918], at sacred-texts.com
SONGS OF THE GHOST-DANCE RELIGION
ARAPAHO
DISILLUSION
I
My children, when at first I liked the Whites,
My children, when at first I liked the Whites,
I gave them fruits,
I gave them fruits.
My children, when at first I liked the Whites,
I gave them fruits,
I gave them fruits.
ECSTASY
II
My children, my children,
The wind makes the head-feathers sing—
The wind makes the head-feathers sing.
My children, my children.
The wind makes the head-feathers sing—
The wind makes the head-feathers sing.
My children, my children.
LABORS OF THE SPIRIT
III
My children, my children,
I take pity on those who have been taught,
Because they push on hard,
Says our Father.
I take pity on those who have been taught,
Because they push on hard,
Says our Father.
p. 52
WONDER
IV
How bright is the moonlight!
Tonight as I ride with my load of buffalo beef.
Tonight as I ride with my load of buffalo beef.
THE WHIRLWIND (POWER OF CHANGE) SPEAKS
V
I circle around
The boundaries of earth,
Wearing the long wing feathers as I fly.
The boundaries of earth,
Wearing the long wing feathers as I fly.
VISION
VI
My children, my children,
Look! the earth is about to move.
My Father tells me so.
Look! the earth is about to move.
My Father tells me so.
SPIRIT-JOY
VII
I fly around yellow,
I fly with the wild rose on my head,
On high—He’e’e’!
I fly with the wild rose on my head,
On high—He’e’e’!
REVELATION
VIII
My children, my children,
It is I who wear the morning star on my head;
I show it to my children,
Says the Father.
It is I who wear the morning star on my head;
I show it to my children,
Says the Father.
p. 53
TRAVAIL, OF SPIRIT
IX
Father, have pity on me,
Father, have pity on me;
I am crying for thirst;
All is gone—I have nothing to eat.
Father, have pity on me;
I am crying for thirst;
All is gone—I have nothing to eat.
INVOCATION
X
Father, the Morning Star!
Father, the Morning Star!
Look on us, we have danced until daylight,
Take pity on us—Hi’i’i!
Father, the Morning Star!
Look on us, we have danced until daylight,
Take pity on us—Hi’i’i!
THE MESSIAH SPEAKS
CHEYENNE
I am coming in sight—
I bring the Whirlwind with me—
That you may know one another.
I bring the Whirlwind with me—
That you may know one another.
REINCARNATION
COMANCHE
We shall live again,
We shall live again.
The sun's beams are spreading out—He’e’yo’!
The sun's yellow rays are spreading out—Ahi’ni’yo’!
We shall live again.
The sun's beams are spreading out—He’e’yo’!
The sun's yellow rays are spreading out—Ahi’ni’yo’!
SONGS OF LIFE RETURNING
PAIUTE
I
The wind stirs the willows.
The wind stirs the grasses.
The wind stirs the grasses.
p. 54
II
The cottonwoods are growing tall,
They are growing tall and verdant.
They are growing tall and verdant.
III
A slender antelope,
A slender antelope
He is wallowing upon the ground.
A slender antelope
He is wallowing upon the ground.
IV
Fog! Fog!
Lightning! Lightning!
Whirlwind! Whirlwind!
Lightning! Lightning!
Whirlwind! Whirlwind!
V
Whirlwind! Whirlwind!
The snowy earth comes gliding, the snowy earth comes
    gliding.
The snowy earth comes gliding, the snowy earth comes
    gliding.
VI
There is dust from the whirlwind,
There is dust from the whirlwind,
The whirlwind on the mountain.
There is dust from the whirlwind,
The whirlwind on the mountain.
VII
The rocks are ringing.
The rocks are ringing,
They are ringing in the mountains.
The rocks are ringing,
They are ringing in the mountains.
SONG OF THE PATH OF SOULS
VIII
The snow lies there—ro’rani!
The snow lies there—ro’rani!
The milky way lies there!
The snow lies there—ro’rani!
The milky way lies there!
p. 55
CREATION
SIOUX
I
This is my work—Yo’yoyo’!
All that grows upon the earth is mine—Yo’yoyo’!
Says the Father—Yo’yoyo’!
E'ya Yo’yoyo’!
All that grows upon the earth is mine—Yo’yoyo’!
Says the Father—Yo’yoyo’!
E'ya Yo’yoyo’!
LAMENT
II
Mother, come home; mother, come home.
My little brother goes about always crying,
My little brother goes about always crying.
Mother, come home; mother come home.
My little brother goes about always crying,
My little brother goes about always crying.
Mother, come home; mother come home.
COURIER CHANT
III
He! They have come back racing,
Why, they say there is to be a buffalo hunt over here,
Why, they say there is to be a buffalo hunt over here,
Make arrows! Make arrows!
Says the Father, says the Father.
Why, they say there is to be a buffalo hunt over here,
Why, they say there is to be a buffalo hunt over here,
Make arrows! Make arrows!
Says the Father, says the Father.
THE MILLENIUM
IV
The whole world is coming,
A nation is coming, a nation is coming,
The Eagle has brought the message to the tribe.
Over the whole earth they are coming;
The buffalo are coming, the buffalo are coming,
The Crow has brought the message to the tribe.
A nation is coming, a nation is coming,
The Eagle has brought the message to the tribe.
Over the whole earth they are coming;
The buffalo are coming, the buffalo are coming,
The Crow has brought the message to the tribe.
p. 56
JUDGMENT
KIOWA
The Father will descend.
Everybody will arise.
Stretch out your hands.
The earth will tremble.
Everybody will arise.
Stretch out your hands.
The earth will tremble.
VISITATION
II
The spirit army is approaching,
The whole world is moving onward.
See! Everybody is standing watching.
Let us all pray.
The whole world is moving onward.
See! Everybody is standing watching.
Let us all pray.
THE SECRET OF HUMANITY
III
Because I am poor,
I pray for every living creature.
I pray for every living creature.
THE GOD-MAN
IV
My Father has had pity on me.
I have eyes like my Father's,
I have hands like my Father's,
I have legs like my Father's,
I have a form like my Father's.
I have eyes like my Father's,
I have hands like my Father's,
I have legs like my Father's,
I have a form like my Father's.
p. 57
THE SPIRIT HUNTERS
V
The spirit host is advancing, they say.
They are coming with the buffalo, they say.
They are coming with the new earth, they say.
They are coming with the buffalo, they say.
They are coming with the new earth, they say.
MYSTIC
VI
That wind, that wind
Shakes my tipi, shakes my tipi,
And sings a song for me,
And sings a song for me.
Shakes my tipi, shakes my tipi,
And sings a song for me,
And sings a song for me.
EXHORTATION
CADDO
Come on, Caddo, we are all going up,
Come on, Caddo, we are all going up
To the great village—He’e’ye’!
To the great village—He’e’ye’!
With our Father above,
With our Father above when he dwells on high—He’e’ye’!
Where our Mother dwells—Hhe’e’ye’!
Where our Mother dwells—Hhe’e’ye’!
Come on, Caddo, we are all going up
To the great village—He’e’ye’!
To the great village—He’e’ye’!
With our Father above,
With our Father above when he dwells on high—He’e’ye’!
Where our Mother dwells—Hhe’e’ye’!
Where our Mother dwells—Hhe’e’ye’!
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