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Her skin was the color |
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Of the mountains' first winter snow |
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His skin was the color |
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Of the hot sun summer glow |
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And they met by a river called Okemah |
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In an August of another time |
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She fell in love with this red man |
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And left her people behind |
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And she learned these things |
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The ways of a red man are lonely |
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And his woman can expect little more |
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And a day filled with hard work and sorrow |
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And so she lived for |
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The nights, the nights |
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And they followed his tribe |
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On a hard trail to the Dakotas far away |
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And they hunted a big buffalo |
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And they heard the old chief say |
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The white man has walked here before us |
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And killed buffalo for their hides |
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And so this winter our women and children |
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Will feel much hunger inside |
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And she learned these things |
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The ways of a red man are lonely |
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And his woman can expect little more |
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Than a day filled with hard work and sorrow |
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And so she learns to live for |
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The nights, the nights |
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That winter they died by the hundreds |
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The people of this red man's tribe |
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She walked the cold ground |
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And cursed the white man |
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Who killed buffalo for their hides |
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And they buried their mothers and fathers |
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And their children they loved so |
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They prayed the son God will come soon |
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And melt the Dakota snow |
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The ways of a red man are lonely |
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And his woman can expect little more |
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Than a day filled with hard work and sorrow |
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And so she learns to live for |
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The nights, the nights |
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And the spring came early to the Dakotas that year |
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And the buffalo numbered ten times ten |
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They filled their stomachs |
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Made their clothes and started their lives again |
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And she bore her lover boy child |
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Fulfilled the promise of spring |
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And from old comes new |
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And new is life and life is an eternal thing |
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And she learned these things |
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The ways of a red man are lonely |
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And his woman can expect little more |
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Than a day with hard work and sorrow |
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And so she learns to live for |
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The nights, the nights |
