I've been fascinated with this slice of our history since learning that my Dad's great grandmother was born during the forced migration. She would be one of at least three sources of Indian ancestry for me.
On my first flight to Nashville I was looking down at the mountains of east Tennessee and imagining the events that took place in that area 170 years earlier, perplexed that I have ancestors on both sides of the genocide. Someone ought to write a song, I thought.
1. Heartland into my heart
2. Rose rocks
3. Roll on brother
4. Trail of tears
5. When you’re walking away
6. For the kids
7. North wind
8. Close the door
9. The Great Unknown
10. That night
11. Boy in the middle
12. Holding on to tomorrow
13. The Glamorgan Road
Trail of Tears
Stephen R. Coffee ©2003
I thought I'd followed every deer trail in this part of Tennessee Yeah I thought I knew where I was going I saw a man's footprints and a chill come over me What if those tracks are my own Or maybe, I'm not alone
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Then just like in a dream, there were people all around They were walking toward the setting sun A hundred thousand moccasins, shuffling on the ground Made a sound like a rolling thunder Or like a river as it pulls you under
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Trail of Tears Trail of Tears I was walking on the Trail of Tears
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Wearing blankets, beads, or next to nothing, carrying all they owned Chickasaw, Choctaw, Cherokee A soldier came a-riding down this weeping human road Talking ‘bout the land of the free You know he looked a lot like me.
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An old and mighty chieftain looked me in the eye It's strange but I know I heard him say “You always knew there'd be Hell to pay By your deeds are you known Every hunter becomes the prey Someday you'll be walking your own Trail of Tears”
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And then I was alone again, rifle in my hand Since that day I haven't been the same The tracks have disappeared into the Oklahoma sand But the Tears are running through our veins Yeah, it's running through our veins |