C G C [Verse 1] C F Come gather 'round me, people, a story I'd like to tell G F C About a brave young Indian, that you should remember well C F From a tribe of Pima Indians, a proud and noble band G F C Who farmed the Phoenix Valley, down in Arizona land [Verse 2] C F Down their ditches for ten thousand years the sparkling waters rushed G F C Then the White Man stole the water rights, and all the running waters hushed C F Ira's folks go hungry, their farms grow crops of weeds G F C When war came, Ira volunteered; forgot the White Man's greed [Chorus] C F Call him drunken' Ira Hayes, he won't answer anymore G F C Not the whiskey drinking Indian, the Marine that went to war [Verse 3] C F They battled up Iwo Jima Hill, two-hundred and fifty men G F C Only twenty-seven lived to walk back down again C F When that fight was over, when Old Glory raised G F C Among the men that held Her high was the Indian, Ira Hayes [Verse 4] C F Well Ira came back a hero, he was celebrated throughout the land G F C He was wined and speeched and honored, everybody shook his hand C F But he was just a Pima Indian; had no money, no home, no chance G F C In Arizona no one cared what Ira had done; just "When do the Indians dance?" [Verse 5] C F So Ira started drinkin' hard, jail was often his home G F C They let him raise the flag and lower it, like you'd throw a dog a bone C F Well he died drunk early one morning, all alone in this land he'd fought to save G F C Two inches of water in a lonesome ditch was the grave for Ira Hayes [Chorus] C F Call him drunken' Ira Hayes, he won't answer anymore G F C Not the whiskey drinking Indian, the Marine that went to war [Verse 5] C F Yeah, call him drunken Ira Hayes, but his land is still as dry G F C And his ghost is lyin' thirsty inside the ditch where Ira died