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2003 Mean Gene Music Inc.
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We are the People
by Gene M. Bates
- A song about Louisiana places that derive their names from Native sources -
Verse 1:
We are the People of the black leggings,
We are the People of the white cane,
We are the People of the long river,
We are the People who gave them the names!
Refrain:
We are the People, who built all the mounds,
Pyramids, plazas, temples and towns.
Chorus:
We are the People of the black water,
We are the People of the white cane,
We are the People who gave all these places their names!
Verse 2:
We are the People of the big water,
We are the People of the white reed break.
We are the People of 'lti Houma',
We are the People of sacred lake!
Refrain:
We are the People, who built all the mounds,
Pyramids, plazas, temples and towns.
Chorus:
We are the People of the black water,
We are the People of the white cane,
We are the People who gave all these places their names!
Don't Lose Hope
by Gene M. Bates
- A song about the struggle for federal recognition for the Houma people! -
Verse 1:
The government in Washington,
Will not accept the fact.
That we were here in Baton Rouge,
since before they made a map!
The government in Washington,
Will not believe its true.
That we've been living here
since before they had a clue!
Chorus:
Don't Lose Hope! - we will be recognized!
Don't Lose Hope! - we will be recognized!
Don't Lose Hope! - we will be recognized!
Don't Lose Hope! - we will be recognized!
Verse 2:
The governor in Baton Rouge,
Was open to our plea.
He recognized us long ago,
And set our people free!
Why can't they see in Washington?
Why can't they see the light?
That we are real, that we exist,
Why can't they see what's right?
Chorus:
Don't Lose Hope! - we will be recognized!
Don't Lose Hope! - we will be recognized!
Don't Lose Hope! - we will be recognized!
Don't Lose Hope! - we will be recognized!
Repeat Verse 1
Repeat Chorus
Pow wow Snagging
by Gene M. Bates
- About the modern 'tradition' of guys 'snagging' (picking up) girls at pow wows! -
Verse 1:
We're heading down the pow wow highway,
We're gonna try and make the scene.
We're looking for a little loving,
And I think you know what I mean.
We're gonna meet some pow wow beauties,
We're gonna have a real good time.
We're gonna meet some contest cuties,
We're heading for the forty-nine!
Chorus:
Pow wow snagging on a Saturday night,
And everything's gonna be all right!
Tee-pee creeping on a Saturday night,
meet some ladies and be up all night.
Verse 2:
We're eyeing all the local lovelies,
We're working on our pick up lines.
We're hoping for a chance to use them,
We're looking for some kind of sign.
We're gonna meet some pow wow beauties,
We're gonna have a real good time.
We're gonna meet some contest cuties,
We're heading for the forty-nine!
Chorus:
Pow wow snagging on a Saturday night,
And everything's gonna be all right!
Tee-pee creeping on a Saturday night,
meet some ladies and be up all night.
Pow wow snagging on a Saturday night.
Repeat Verse 1
Repeat Chorus
Ku-nax-mi-wi-ca
by Gene M. Bates
- A southeastern story - how the Red-Winged Blackbird came to have red on this wings! -
Verse 1:
A bad man came along one day,
with anger in his heart.
He wanted to destroy us all,
A fire he did start.
He lit the grass, and burned the marsh,
And havoc, he did bring.
A little bird, he warned us all,
As he began to sing...
Chorus:
Ku-nax-mi-wi-ca!, Ku-nax-mi-wi-ca!, the water and all is going to burn!
Ku-nax-mi-wi-ca!, Ku-nax-mi-wi-ca!, the water and all is going to burn!
Verse 2:
The bad man told the little bird
Go a-way or you'll die.
The little bird was not afraid,
He gave it one more try.
The bad man threw a shell at him
To stop his warning song
The bloodied bird just kept right on
And shouted loud and strong...
Repeat Chorus
Verse 3:
The fire done the bird did say,"
Ah! - you have done us good.
By burning down the marsh and all,
You brought out all the food".
The people gathered bear and deer
and buffalo to slay.
When bad man saw his plan had failed,
He screamed and ran away...
Repeat Chorus
Frybread Woman
by Gene M. Bates and August "Cocoa" Creppel
- A song about a dream I had where a frybread woman was chasing after me, and she was really upset! -
Verse 1:
(I) got a frybread woman coming after me,
She's a mean, mean woman sometimes,
She's a real humdinger and a pretty little thing,
but she let her temper unwind!
Verse 2:
(I) got a frybread woman looking out for me,
She's a mad, mad woman you see,
She's a real fine lady with a something on her mind,
And she won't ever let it be!
Chorus:
Frybread woman - wants to see me dead,
Frybread woman - gonna bust my head,
Frybread woman - won't leave me alone,
Frybread woman - gonna break my bones!
Verse 3:
(I) got a frybread woman with an axe to grind,
She's a wack, wack woman you'll find,
She might take that axe and stick it in my feeble brain,
If she gets it into her mind!
Verse 4:
(I) got a frybread woman with an attitude,
She's a crazed, crazed woman today,
She might be a-thinking that I'm messing all around,
And she might be right in a way!
Chorus:
Frybread woman - wants to see me dead,
Frybread woman - gonna bust my head,
Frybread woman - won't leave me alone,
Frybread woman - gonna break my bones!
Guitar break
Repeat Verses 1 and 2
Chorus and out!
Bonnet Carre Spillway
by Gene M. Bates
- A song about trying to get back with your 'old timer'! -
Verse 1:
Don't know what I'm gonna find,
Hope you leave the door wide open,
I'm still thinking that you're fine,
I'm just wishing and a hoping,
Refrain:
Hold that thought, and keep me in mind,
Hold on tight, I'm not that far behind,
And I'll be there, and I'll be there...
Chorus:
I'm on the Bonnet Carre Spillway,
On my way back home to you!
I'm on the Bonnet Carre Spillway,
And I'm hoping that it's true!
That you want me, want me back again!
That you want me, want me back again!
Verse 2:
I can't see the future now,
Don't know if you're gonna listen,
I have no way of knowing,
If you're hoping and a wishing,
Refrain:
Hold that thought, and keep me in mind,
Hold on tight, I'm not that far behind,
And I'll be there, and I'll be there...
Chorus:
I'm on the Bonnet Carre Spillway,
On my way back home to you!
I'm on the Bonnet Carre Spillway,
And I'm hoping that it's true!
That you want me, want me back again!
That you want me, want me back again!
Guitar break
Repeat Verse 1
Chorus and out!
Crazy Love
by Gene M. Bates
- A song about a woman who's so crazy in love with her man that she'll put up with just about anything! -
Verse 1:
He got a girlfriend down the alley,
He got a girlfriend on the phone.
Don't know where she's gonna run to,
Or if she should stay at home.
Refrain:
'Cause he's her little sugar dumplin',
He's the honey in her tea.
He's a little bit unfaithful,
And she's a little bit deceived!
Chorus:
It's a crazy love she's living,
He don't wanna be her man.
It's all taking and no giving,
It's so hard to understand, hard to understand.
Verse 2:
He got a girlfriend in the parish,
He got a girlfriend at the door.
Don't know why she's holding onto,
A man who don't care no more!
Repeat Refrain
Repeat Chorus
(Something 'bout that) NDN Girl
by Gene M. Bates
- A song about that certain something that Indian girls have that no one else has! -
Verse 1:
What is it 'bout that Indian girl,
That keeps her on my brain?
What is it 'bout that Indian girl,
That's driving me insane?
She's not a ten or even close,
She's just a four or five.
She's got a way to make me feel,
So much more alive!
Chorus:
Something 'bout that Indian girl,
That turns me upside down.
Something 'bout that Indian girl,
That turns my world around!
Verse 2:
What is it 'bout that Indian girl,
That sets me off that way?
What is it 'bout that Indian girl,
That makes me want to stay?
She's not that special in my eyes,
She's just an average girl.
She has a way of taking me
Into another world!
Chorus:
Something 'bout that Indian girl,
That turns me upside down.
Something 'bout that Indian girl,
That turns my world around!
Guitar break
Repeat Verse 1
Chorus and out!
Broken Trust
by Gene M. Bates
- A song about broken treaties and broken relationships! -
Verse 1:
Somewhere out there in the dust,
We have lost our faith and trust.
Somehow when the chips were down,
You would always make us frown.
Refrain:
How could you live with all that shame?
Taking people's lives and lands!
Did you feel your share in the blame?
Turn your back and wash your hands.
Chorus:
Broken hearts and broken dreams,
Lies, deception, heartache, pain!
Broken hearts and broken dreams,
Broken trust is what remains,
Broken trust is what remains!
Verse 2:
Somewhere back there we got lost,
We've forgotten what it cost.
To hang on to someone's past,
You must want to make it last.
Refrain:
How could you live with all that shame?
Taking people's lives and lands!
Did you feel your share in the blame?
Turn your back and wash your hands.
Chorus:
Broken hearts and broken dreams,
Lies, deception, heartache, pain!
Broken hearts and broken dreams,
Broken trust is what remains,
Broken trust is what remains!
Repeat Verse 1
Repeat Chorus
Clark and Sibley - You Can't Count
by Gene M. Bates
- A song about Louisiana's notorious Indian Agents Clark and Sibley! -
Verse 1:
The word came down from Jefferson,
A census to be taken.
They'd never know in Washington,
Our numbers you'd be faking!
Verse 2:
Our villages and settlements,
So very hard to find.
You thought that you would skip a few,
The government won't mind.
Chorus:
Clark and Sibley - you can't count,
Clark and Sibley - you can't count,
Clark and Sibley - you can't count,
you can't count, you can't count - on them!
Verse 3:
You told the Feds in Washington,
That we had sixty people.
How could you know? You never looked!
Your effort was deceitful!
Verse 4:
Your lust for land corrupted you,
The power and the money.
You didn't care, you took our land,
And thought that it was funny!
Chorus:
Clark and Sibley - you can't count,
Clark and Sibley - you can't count,
Clark and Sibley - you can't count,
you can't count, you can't count - on them!
Every time
by Gene M. Bates
- A song about seeing your 'old timer' again -
Verse 1:
Every time that I see you,
Feel that urge to hold onto the past.
Want to hold you in my arms,
Feel embraced by all of your charms,
Feel the warmth of all the things we once had,
It's so sad...every time!
Verse 2:
Every time that I see you,
Feel those chills from your voice again.
Want to feel your lips on mine,
Want to have you all the time,
Want to know just where the hell it went wrong,
Same old song...every time!
Refrain:
I think that if I'd have ever known
That you were gonna change your mind,
I'd have never given you,
that diamond when you knew,
that we were gonna be all through - ou-ou
Verse 3:
Every time that I see you,
Hear the words but my mind's somewhere else.
Thinking of old memories,
Thinking of old use-to-be's,
Thinking that it could've been something new,
But I'm blue...every time!
Waters of Life
by Gene M. Bates
- A song about the legend and healing powers of Abita Springs -
Verse 1:
Legend tells of a story,
Legend tells us of a bride.
Marrying a dashing Spaniard,
She would be her father's pride!
Taken to the Cresent City,
Where she tried to learn his ways,
She would slowly start to whither,
Losing life with every day!
Verse 2:
When he found her she was ailing,
Sickness in her spirit grew.
Taking her back to her village,
They would know just what to do.
'Leave her for a month', they told him
'Leave her at the healing stream!
If you come before the times up
She will fade into a dream!
Chorus:
Waters of Life, Waters of wonder,
Waters of power, power to heal!
Waters of Life, Waters of wonder,
Waters of power, power to heal!
Verse 3:
After thirty days he found her,
Gone was all her suffering.
She was cured of all her sickness,
Kneeling at the healing spring.
'Til this day the spring has power,
'Til this day the waters heal.
If you travel to Abita,
You will know that it is real!
Chorus:
Waters of Life, Waters of wonder,
Waters of power, power to heal!
Waters of Life, Waters of wonder,
Waters of power, power to heal!
Rosalie Courteau
by Gene M. Bates
- A song about the famous female chief who worked for Houma people's rights! -
Verse 1:
A woman warrior for her people,
She tried to make things right.
A mighty leader for her people,
She always put up a fight!
She could've given up and walked away,
But she just kept right on.
She could've left it all behind, instead,
She fought the fight and won!
Chorus:
Sister Rosalie, Rosalie Courteau!
Sister Rosalie, Rosalie Courteau!
Verse 2:
A female fighter for the Houma,
She worked hard to keep the land.
A soldier sister in the trenches,
She always took a stand!
And though the odds weren't in her favor,
She always did her best.
To fight for Houma people's rights,
And never give it a rest!
Chorus:
Sister Rosalie, Rosalie Courteau!
Sister Rosalie, Rosalie Courteau!
Love Me This Way
by Gene M. Bates
- A song about one-way love -
Verse 1:
How can a man be a man,
When he don't understand,
Just what you're trying to say?
How can a love like this,
Try to e-ven exist,
When it doessn't go anyway?
Refrain:
When you're wearing my heart out all of the time,
When you're giving me nothing that I can call mine,
When you keep me off my guard so I don't know what I can say...
Chorus:
When you love me this way!
Love me this way!
Love me this way!
Love me this way!
Verse 2:
How can I give all to you,
When all you want to do,
is just keep me holding on?
How can the games we play,
Go any other way?
I keep flying into the sun!
Refrain:
When you're wearing my heart out all of the time,
When you're giving me nothing that I can call mine,
When you keep me off my guard so I don't know what I can say...
Repeat Chorus
Vocal Break:
I've tried my best to make you see how much I really care,
I don't believe I've made it work, or you would still be here...
Guitar break
Repeat Verse 1
Chorus and out!
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