Bitter Tears: Ballads of the American Indian

by Johnny Cash

Bitter Tears: Ballads of the American Indian cover art
  • Type: Album
  • Released: 1 October 1964
  • Label: Columbia
  • Country: United States
  • Length: 31:13
  • Community rating: 3.53/5 from 2 ratings

Album Notes & Community Reviews

Johnny Cash conceptualizes an entire album around the history and mistreatment of Native Americans, drawing heavily from the compositions of Peter La Farge. The tracks feature sparse acoustic instrumentation and steady, galloping rhythms that support his resonant, narrative-driven vocal performances.

Genres

Descriptors: protest, history, conceptual, political, conscious, environmentalism, anticolonialism

Tracklist

  1. As Long As The Grass Shall Grow (6:10)
  2. Apache Tears (2:34)
  3. Custer (2:20)
  4. The Talking Leaves (3:55)
  5. The Ballad Of Ira Hayes (4:07)
  6. Drums (5:04)
  7. White Girl (3:01)
  8. The Vanishing Race (4:02)

Credits

  • Johnny Cash - primary artist, written-by
  • Hugh Cherry - liner notes
  • Bob Cato - photography by [cover]
  • Don Law - producer
  • Frank Jones - producer
  • Peter LaFarge - written-by
  • Johnny Horton - written-by

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