As Long as the Grass Shall Grow

Album: Bitter Tears: Ballads of the American Indian (1962)
Play Video
  • 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 corn planter 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 corn planter can you swim
    The earth is mother to the 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 Kinuza 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 Writer/s: PETER LAFARGE
    Publisher: ESP-DISK, LTD.
    Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 1

  • Allen J. Gilbert from PennsyltuckyThis article credits Bob Dylan with writing "The Grass Shall Grow". I love and respect Bob Dylan for 50 years. That being said, was it Pete LaFarge or Bob Dylan that wrote the song? Did they collaborate? Was this another Rock Me Momma/Wagon Wheel deal? Please advise?
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Jello Biafra

Jello BiafraSongwriter Interviews

The former Dead Kennedys frontman on the past, present and future of the band, what music makes us "pliant and stupid," and what he learned from Alice Cooper.

80s Music Quiz 1

80s Music Quiz 1Music Quiz

MTV, a popular TV theme song and Madonna all show up in this '80s music quiz.

Movie Stars In Music Videos

Movie Stars In Music VideosSong Writing

Johnny Depp, Angelina Jolie, Mila Kunis and John Malkovich are just a few of the film stars who have moonlighted in music videos.

Director Wes Edwards ("Drunk on a Plane")

Director Wes Edwards ("Drunk on a Plane")Song Writing

Wes Edwards takes us behind the scenes of videos he shot for Jason Aldean, Dierks Bentley and Chase Bryant. The train was real - the airplane was not.

Steely Dan

Steely DanFact or Fiction

Did they really trade their guitarist to The Doobie Brothers? Are they named after something naughty? And what's up with the band name?

History Of Rock

History Of RockSong Writing

An interview with Dr. John Covach, music professor at the University of Rochester whose free online courses have become wildly popular.