It Is a Good Day to Die

(Robbie Robertson)

The general rode for sixteen days
The horses were thirsty and tired
On the trail of a renegade chief
One he’d come to admire
The soldiers hid behind the hills
That surrounded the village
And he rode down to warn the chief
They’d come to conquer and pillage
Lay down your arms
Lay down your spear
The chief’s eyes were sad
But showed no sign of fear
It is a good day to die
Oh my children dry your eyes
It is a good day to die
And he spoke of the days before the white man came With his guns and whisky
He told of a time long ago
Before what you call history
The general couldn’t believe his words
Nor the look on his face
But he knew these people would rather die Than have to live in this disgrace
What law have I broken?

What wrong have I done?
That makes you want to bury me
Upon this trail of blood
It is a good day to die
Oh my children don’t you cry
It is a good day to die
We cared for the land and the land cared for us And that’s the way it’s always been
Never asked for more never asked too much And now you tell me this is the end
I laid down my weapon
I laid down my bow
Now you want to drive me out
With no place left to go
It is a good day to die
Oh my children don’t you cry
It is a good day to die
And he turned to his people and said dry your eyes We’ve been blessed and we are thankful Raise your voices to the sky
It is a good day to die