Review of Bitter Tears

This is a review of the album by Johnny Cash entitled Bitter Tears.

When I was asked to review one of Johnny Cash's albums, this one came immediately to mind without hesitation. It is not one of his most popular albums, not at all. In fact, in the tumultuous 60's it was suppressed due to its Native American theme. Johnny believed in this album; at the time he believed he had Cherokee heritage. This was later proven to be false, but it did not deter him from fighting for the Native American People. He handed out more than 1,000 copies of this album to DJ's and Programmers calling them 'gutless'. Eventually, it made No. 2 on Billboard and the song Ira Hayes made No. 3.

I believe that whether this made the Billboard Top 100 or not, it is an album worth listening to. It's not a feel-good album, not at all. However, it will hit you in the gut with emotion; possibly make you cry, and bring to light the reality of what has been done to these indigenous people from America. A voice that cries out and brings to light something we would prefer to keep hidden. It makes a statement.

There are eight songs in this album; each one making a specific point.

1. As Long As The Grass Shall Grow
2. Apache Tears
3. Custer
4. The Talking Leaves
5. The Battle of Ira Hayes
6. Drum
7.. White Girl
8. The Vanishing Race

And the Government Keeps It Up

As Long As The Grass Shall Grow
This is about the loss of Seneca Nation land in Pennsylvania and New York due to Federal construction of Kinzua Dam in the early 1960's.

Apache Tears
There is a saying that anyone who carries an Apache tear will never need to shed their tears again in times of sorrow as the Apache Women shed enough tears for all.

In the 1870's, a tribe of 75 Apaches met the U.S. Calvary in a battle on a mountain bluff overlooking what is now Superior, AZ. Greatly outnumbered, they chose to leap to their deaths. The families were grief stricken and wept when they heard of the tragedy. As they cried, their tears turned to stone and landed on the ground.

Custer
This is about Native Americans enjoying delight in the death of General George A. Custer at The Battle of Little Big Horn.

The Talking Leaves
This is my favorite!
Sequoyah asked his father what these white leaves with chicken scratches were. His Father explained to him that it was the white man's method of talking to each other, even from miles away. His Father told him to leave it alone, but Sequoyah was obsessed and wanted the same for the Cherokee Nation. In 1821 he presented his syllabary to the Cherokee Nation. In 1828 the first newspaper was printed in Cherokee called the Phoenix. It is still printed today.

The Battle of Ira Hayes
This is a tragic story of a man who was admired. He was one of the men who raised the flag at Iwo Jima. Later in life he returned to the Gila River Reservation and lived a life of alcoholism and poverty. The government - that's right, again the government - had built a dam that diverted critical water needed for the Reservation.

Drums
Drums is about educating Indians in the white man's schools. This line of the song says it all: You say you'll make me right. In 500 years of fighting, not one Indian turned white.

White Girl
This is about a white girl who paraded around an Indian man who was in love with her but she would not marry an Indian.

The Vanishing Race
A song about a Navajo who sees a vision of his race disappearing.

I give this album a 5 star ***** review for the courage, authenticity, bravery, and compassion in publishing it during a time of social revolution in the 1960's.


Words: 678
Prompt: Choose one of Johnny Cash's albums and review the album. Persuade me to buy it!
1st Place Winner