☝️ Key Points
- The song lyrics address prejudice, discrimination, and violence
- The preacher is discriminated against and ultimately killed due to his marriage to an Indian woman and his work with the poor and sick
- Society is sometimes unwilling to take responsibility for its own problems and instead looks for a scapegoat
- The song lyrics also reference the nature and landscape of the Rio Grande, which metaphorically represents hope and peace
Interpretation
The lyrics of the song "Beside the Rio Grande" by
Strawbs tell the story of a preacher who comes to a town and engages the people with his medicine and music. However, the mayor sees the preacher's growing power and becomes concerned. The people in the town criticize the preacher for marrying an Indian woman and associating with the sick and poor. They come to the conclusion that he is responsible for the drought that burns the grass and kills the cattle. The situation escalates when the men beat up the preacher and bury him next to two Apache warriors. The preacher dies and forgives the people for what they have done to him.
The text shows how prejudice and mistrust can lead people to harm others. The preacher is discriminated against and ultimately killed because of his marriage to an Indian woman and his work with the poor and sick. It also becomes clear that society sometimes is not willing to take responsibility for its own problems and instead needs a scapegoat.
The lyrics of the song also address the nature and landscape of the Rio Grande. The river metaphorically represents a place of hope and peace.
Quotes from the lyrics:
- "With stories from the Testaments of men of great reknown" - The preacher tells stories from the Bible.
- "And he had along his Indian wife and a country music band" - The preacher has his Indian wife and a country music band with him.
- "And the girls sang sentimental songs that made us cowboys cry" - The girls sing sentimental songs that make us cowboys cry.
- "And in a crazy fit the Preacher scattered chips and winning hands" - In a fit of madness, the preacher scatters chips and winning hands.
- "We pegged him on the hillside alongside two Apache braves" - We buried him on the hillside next to two Apache warriors.
- "And as the night began to fall we covered him with sand" - As the night began to fall, we covered him with sand.
The lyrics of the song "Beside the Rio Grande" criticize prejudice, discrimination, and violence, and serve as a reminder that we should treat each other with respect and compassion.