Remarks:
This went to #1 in the Netherlands in 1973 but did not chart in their native US, where it was banned at several radio stations because of the lyrics.
Redbone is a Native American rock band, best known in the US for “Come and Get Your Love”, where it went to #1 in 1974. In Britain, they are probably best known for “Witch Queen of New Orleans” where it went to #2 in 1971.
Thanks to teddy1975 for suggesting this song.
Lyrics:
We were all wounded at Wounded Knee, you and me
We were all wounded at Wounded Knee, you and me
In the name of manifest destiny, you and me, you and me, you and me
They made us many promises but always broke their word
They penned us in like buffalo, drove us like a herd
And finally on the reservation where we’d gone for our preservation, we were all wiped out by the seventh cavalry
You and me, you and me
We were all wounded at Wounded Knee, you and me
We were all wounded at Wounded Knee, you and me
In the name of manifest destiny, you and me, you and me, you and me
Now we make our promises, we won’t break our word
We’ll sing, sing, sing out our story ’til the truth is heard
There’s a whole new generation Braves who dream of veneration who were not wiped out by the seventh cavalry
You and me, you and me
We were all wounded at Wounded Knee, you and me
We were all wounded at Wounded Knee, you and me
We were all wounded by Wounded Knee
I like Come and Get Your Love better
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Also liked “Come and Get Your Love” – got a little funk in it
Always thought the singer was black– life before music videos 🙂
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ClassiC, epic and important! Ain’t that about a bish that U.S. stations wouldn’t play it because of the lyrics about Wounded Knee-if the “powers that be” are as mighty and superior as they claim to be, why were/are they sO afraid of a lil’ simple, historic song by a Native American band? Hmmm…
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Just wondering if there is a typo in the title, eg,
We Were All Wounded at Wound Knee
–>
We Were All Wounded at Wounded Knee
I do have some faint memory of this song, but I did not know the lyrics nor understand why it was banned. Reading the lyrics now, it seems so simple and relatively innocuous. It is merely a call not to have it erased from our national narrative. But, back then, it was during the Wounded Knee incident, so it is understandable (but not excusable, of course) that stations would have refused to air it to avoid political confrontation.
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@ Jefe
It was a typo. Thanks.
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The next year, “Come and Get Your Love” topped the charts, proving that America loves its exotic minorities as long as they stick to the innocuous and saccharine. When you start making statements, that’s when America collectively feels uncomfortable…
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@MackLyons, Yes, say that again please!
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“The next year, “Come and Get Your Love” topped the charts, proving that America loves its exotic minorities as long as they stick to the innocuous and saccharine. When you start making statements, that’s when America collectively feels uncomfortable…”
Someone once remarked that top chart songs were not “real” and the bands cranking them out had sold out to the pop chart money. I replied that this sounded cool around the campfire but I found it very hard to believe that he wouldn’t say yes to a top ten hit and the limo, girls and money it would bring him… he grinned. Nodded. Ya, that’s true.
Point is people love music for all kinds of reasons, but the ones who only love it to hurt, who only love it to suffer and cry, have some serious issues.
And everyone loves what their lips start singing to for fun. So, talk dirt on America and Americans all you want/ I’ll wager your country is equally shallow. Because we are ALL human.
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