In a dungeon deep at Saint Augustine, Chief Osceola wept
For his people and his golden land. His body had not slept.
Then Wildcat said, "Oh, Chief, I beg you go
With me to stand against our mortal foe."
But Osceola raised his proud head high,
Said, "Do this ere I die.
"Wildcat, Brother, to the grassy waters take the Seminole.
There no white man can invade to leave you lying dead and cold.
"I shall not live among such evil men, who mock the sign of truce, this flag of white,
And honor not their given, sacred word. My name will be the light,
"The light that burns in every warrior's soul in dark and hidden reaches.
They will never drive us from our land, nor drain our blood like leeches.
"My spirit walks with those of you who die; and those of you who always will remain
Upon this bloodstained blessed flowered land must fight and fight again."
For his people and his golden land. His body had not slept.
Then Wildcat said, "Oh, Chief, I beg you go
With me to stand against our mortal foe."
But Osceola raised his proud head high,
Said, "Do this ere I die.
"Wildcat, Brother, to the grassy waters take the Seminole.
There no white man can invade to leave you lying dead and cold.
"I shall not live among such evil men, who mock the sign of truce, this flag of white,
And honor not their given, sacred word. My name will be the light,
"The light that burns in every warrior's soul in dark and hidden reaches.
They will never drive us from our land, nor drain our blood like leeches.
"My spirit walks with those of you who die; and those of you who always will remain
Upon this bloodstained blessed flowered land must fight and fight again."
Contributed by Alessandro - 2010/4/6 - 13:06
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Album “Broadside Ballads, Vol. 4: The Time Will Come and Other Songs from Broadside Magazine”, Folkways Records, 1967.
Asi-yahola (anglicizzato in Osceola) è stato un importante capo dei nativi Seminole della Florida. Il suo nome “secolare” era Billy Powell, nato nel 1804 a Tallassee, Alabama. La madre era metà nativa creek e metà scozzese, il padre era inglese. Nel 1814 la famiglia di Billy si trasferì in Florida ed è lì che il ragazzo ricevette il suo nome adulto, Asi-yahola, con riferimento ad una bevanda rituale (l’asi) usata dai Creek e ad un sostantivo che significa “urlo”.
Nel 1835 Osceola fu tra i leader dei nativi stanziatisi in Florida (chiamati genericamente Seminole) a sollevarsi in armi contro il progetto del governo statunitense di deportarli tutti in Arkansas. Fu la terribile “Second Seminole War” (1835-1842) descritta anche in un’altra canzone di Will McLean, Dade’s Massacre. Nel 1837 Osceola fu catturato a tradimento, dopo essere stato invitato ad un negoziato. Morì di malaria, in prigione, l’anno seguente.