☝️ Key Points
- The song tells the story of Ira Hayes, a Pima Indian and WWII Marine who was forgotten by society after the war and suffered from poverty and alcoholism
- The lyrics illustrate the oppression and land theft experienced by Native Americans, through the portrayal of the Pima Indians who lost their water and harvest to white settlers
- Hayes' heroic actions at Iwo Jima, where only 27 out of 250 men survived, are highlighted - but despite his awards, he was ignored by society upon his return
- Hayes' struggle with alcoholism and prison stays reflect his isolation after the war and lead to his lonely death in a ditch
- The song ends by emphasizing that Hayes' land is still dry and his 'thirsty spirit' lies in his grave, pointing to the ongoing issues and injustices faced by indigenous peoples
Interpretation
The song 'Ballad of Ira Hayes' by
Johnny Cash tells the true story of Ira Hayes, a Pima Indian who served in World War II. Hayes was one of the soldiers who raised the American flag on Iwo Jima, a symbol that became one of the most iconic images of the war. Despite his heroic deeds, Hayes was largely ignored at home after the war and suffered from poverty and alcoholism.
The song begins by portraying Hayes as a 'whiskey drinkin' Indian' and a 'Marine that went to war', alluding to his struggles after the war. Cash describes how the Pima Indians have been practicing agriculture for a thousand years, until the 'white' people stole their water rights and their crops withered. This reflects the oppression and land theft that the indigenous peoples of America have endured.
Hayes volunteered for military service, but did not forget the 'greed of the white man'. Despite his deeds at Iwo Jima, where only 27 men out of 250 survived, he was largely ignored upon his return. He was celebrated as a hero, but at home, no one really cared about what he had done.
Hayes started drinking heavily and often ended up in jail. He died alone and drunk in a ditch - a tragic end for a man who had fought for his country. The chorus 'Call him drunken Ira Hayes / He won't answer anymore' is a call to society to remember the unanswered questions and untreated problems that symbolize Hayes' life and death. The song ends by emphasizing that Hayes' land is still dry and his 'spirit thirsty' lies in the ditch where he died, alluding to the ongoing issues faced by indigenous peoples.