Indian Games, Dances & Native Songs - online book

Native American Ceremonials, Sports, and Songs with Sheet Music, Lyrics & Commentary

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	INDIAN GAMES AND DANCES
	Ritual Song No. i Fourfold deep lie my roots within the land; Clad in green, bearing fruit, Lo! here I stand! Pluck and eat, life for life, behold, I give! Shout with joy, dance and sing with all that live. At the words "Lo! here I stand!" the company of dancers should all be standing in a semi-cir ;le. As the words in the third line, "Behold, I give!" are sung, the draped arms should be slightly extended forward as in a presentation. The fourth line requires some dramatic action, but it should be restrained rather than free. The arms, still draped with the green mantles, should be raised a little as the words "Shout with joy" are sung, and during the singing of the remainder of the line swayed from side to side in rhythm with the song, always with a reserve in the movements, because of the mystery mentioned in the words of the song, that life is main­tained by the giving of life. A pause of about two beats should follow this Ritual Song. As "Ho-o! Ho-o!" the opening of the next song, is given, every dancer should suddenly turn half-way round, give a movement of the head such as would cause the mantle to fall back and leave the head with the corn tassel