Vincent Neil Emerson | "The Ballad of the Choctaw-Apache" | Western AF 

Although we may ignore it, we are truly in the midsts of an alternative/"americana"/folk-oriented/"southern gothic" country renaissance. I'm happy to say my generation has VNE, Colter, Crockett, Arman, Ferrell, Childers, Simpson, and Zach Bryan carry the torch of the true American sound.

Thank you for this song, Vincent. My mother's family was displaced by the Texas government. My grandfather helped the government locate and remove old pioneer and Native America graves. He also told them to get the timber out of there as soon as possible because he had seen how fast the creeks had risen during rain storms. Of course they didn't listen and almost to this day you can still see the tops of trees sticking out of the lake's surface. The anger of some of the residents is still palatable. When one of my uncles, who has sadly passed on, was asked if he wanted to go a ceremony marking the 50th anniversary of the dam's construction, he asked if he could bring dynamite.

As a Native I greatly appreciate this song and thank you for speaking the truth!!! ✊🏼 Osiyo✊🏼

You’re talking about my grandfather. He left the tribe and moved us to New Caney. I’ve filled out my enrollment papers yesterday. I’m coming home.

The epitome of "three chords and the truth" country. Been a fan of VNE for a long time now, but I think this is the best song he's done. You can feel how much it means to him, and that always means good music. Thank y'all so much for bringing us this version.

As a Cajun descendant and native of Louisiana, as well as a former resident of Texas, he is right. No one really talks about what happened to the Native American Tribes in Louisiana or East Texas. It is great to see this topic brought up in such a fantastic song.

God bless Vincent and everyone keeping the old sound and stories alive

One of the best songs put out this year.

Vincent, I just "found you" over on the IG channel. Know some folks up in Ebarb. Y'all got them good tamales too.

he's such a talented songwriter; from hilarious songs that will have you laughing throughout to haunting existential pondering to celebrations of his cultural heritage, he has an incredible range and soaring talent

Excellent song and incredible storytelling for folks who don't have as much a voice. AHO!

I moved to North America many years ago from Eastern Europe and raised my kids here. I love Vincent’s songs, particularly this one.

Saw him play it at a small record store show… powerful song

One of my favorite country western artists. Can listen to his albums straight through.

No working artist or lyricist quite like VNE. This song stopped me dead in my tracks when I heard it off his new album - shivers down my spine! Didn’t know this part of history even existed. Wish more folks would give this man a listen! And as always, absolutely gorgeous production value, WesternAF!

From one writer to another, this guy is something else. He’s an amazing song writer for sure

Stumbled on to your channel from a recommended vid on RadioWV. Gotta thank the algorithm when it provides gold! So happy to have found not only you, but Vincent among many others! Take my sub and I look forward to what the future holds!

This song brought tears to my eyes and chills to my bones. I could feel the emotions and see the heartache and pain.

Goddamn yes. Love this. Dislikes are from people who don’t want to open their eyes

Wow. VNE was already one of my favourite young artists...this brought a tear to my eye. Thank you Vincent and Western AF.

Having grown up in the area this was written about and being a descendant of that tribe, this is powerful stuff. I'm glad someone is singing about it.

Hi Cuz! Registered tribal member of the Choctaw-Apache Tribe of Ebarb here! You've got a great voice!

You’re not alone in this fight. It’s inspiring to see someone singing these tales. See, i’m not Choctaw Apache, but i’m from a part of rural Northern California that’s facing similar struggles. When the feds came in here in the early 1900s, there was no lobbying power to fight them. They took our cities and the tribes cultural cites- and they drowned them. A city of 10,000 people (Kennett CA) was forced out, now sits under hundreds of feet of stolen water. The winnemem wintu (14k) forced out of their homes, faced a cultural genocide when unable to maintain their livelihood anywhere else. The list goes on… Now today, our river beds run dry because of all the water they have taken. They’ve killed the salmon that are sacred to our surrounding tribes. The townships are running out of water, and the state is decreasing our allowance from the lakes they built from our rivers. People are unable to afford their water bills in an area so once so bountiful. We need to speak up. This needs to stop.

This is the best song that's been on here in a long time and he's got a great natural voice.

Incredibly powerful song, absolutely love this one! Chords and lyrics below folks, have fun playing! Formatted on Ultimate Guitar in a few hours as well Capo on 4, Standard tuning Intro Am G Am / Am G Am Verses Am C G Am / G Am G Am / G C G F / Am G Am G Am (repeat everything once) Chorus F C G Am / F C G / F C G Am / G Am Interlude Am G Am / Am G Am Interlude 2 Am C G Am / G Am G Am / G C G F / Am G Am G Am [Intro] [Verse 1] Well the East Texas wind was whistlin' through the pines And I followed it down to Lousiane There is a tribe and it ain't too hard to find Where the rich man came and flooded all the land They had no mercy on the people old and young They were blinded by the silver on their tongues All the land that they take, just to build themselves a lake Well it ain't worth all the lives that you forsake [Chorus] Well 180,000 acres of ancestral land That Sabine river bottom, flooded by the dam I am a proud Choctaw-Apache man But it just don't mean a thing to the faces in your hand [Interlude] [Verse 2] Well back in 1963 the land of the proud, the brace and the free But it ain't that way for everyone you see They washed out the land so be careful where you stand Like a boulder fallin' on a grain of sand Well I hope that dirty reservoir was worth all the lives you scarred And the people you left hangin' out to dry Well lord knows that tried their best to turn the tide But there ain't no sense in waitin' 'round to die [Chorus] Well 180,000 acres of ancestral land That Sabine river bottom, flooded by the dam I am a proud Choctaw-Apache man But it just don't mean a thing to the faces in your hand [Interlude] [Verse 3] Well my granny was a native from the parish of Sabine And she raised her children the best way she knew how They lived off the earth back before the times of dearth They counted on the seed and the plow But the crops they all drowned in the water rushin' down Only 25 bucks an acre they were paid Well you take away their homes, then you claim what you don't own Well I guess it's still the American way [Chorus] Well 180,000 acres of ancestral land That Sabine river bottom, flooded by the dam I am a proud Choctaw-Apache man But it just don't mean a thing No it just don't mean a thing Well it just don't mean a thing To the faces in your hand [Outro]

A masterclass in imagery and metaphor!

Good effort Neil. U shoudl be proud of this song, and the empathy in your heart. Good move doing songs about social order in your style that is growing in maturity and depth. Good job.

The flute in the studio version is breathtaking

Incredible. You have made a lifelong fan Vincent Neil Emerson. My family is from NM and my grandfather and his siblings were stolen from his parents (Mescalero Apache) and sent to a Boarding School, they were returned eventually but were beaten and even permanently disabled. It has hurt our family so much over the decades.

Well sung sir. Very beautiful and heartfelt.

good song, cousin! the northern Choctaw Apache in Arkansas supports you!

Brother that it dont mean a thing to the faces in your hand woah nice simple but deep. Love this

Your a good man. Blessings to you and yourn... for what it's worth....

Nice to hear a song with true meaning… great stuff thanks

It is a beautiful song, which is what most people are commenting on. But, having Cherokee Indian blood I truly understand the place in your heart where the words and origin of the song came from. It’s easy for people to forget and brush aside the raw deals and treatment that were forced upon all Native Americans. I’m proud that you took the time to remind us all.

This is great! Vincent continue what you’re doing.

As a Choctaw i love it. I didn't know he was Choctaw as well. Just heard a few song before i knew. I like him then and better now.

Oh good, it's back on! I was worried when it was temporarily taken back down.

Been stuck on this song for a week now. Cant get over how he presents it

My granny's land is a state park now she was Cherokee outta West Virginia songs means alot to me as well

Big round of applause to this young man, gave us indigenous a voice. Aho 🪶

Ebarb, Converse, Zwolle, Toledo town, Circle Drive, man I've been all over that country fishing the Bend. Awesome song, bud thanks for sharing!

Need more of theses stories

Keepin country music alive!

I’m a simple man, I see VNE, I like.

❤️ to all my native people out there, I love yah.

i would pay any amount to hear vincint sing jolene

Hearing quite a bit of Dolly Parton's "Jolene" in this

I could feel my abused ancestors pushing their emotions through me during this. Thank you for writing this 💜

Saw him a couple of months before the pandemic began with Colter Wall. He was great. I’m glad to see him getting featured here.

Damn, this song is good!

Wow! That was soulful, beautiful and from the heart.

IMA 8th Generation SHELBY COUNTY REPRESENTATIVE! THANK YOU FOR WRITING THIS ✍️

Shades of Townes in there with "waiting around to die." Fantastic work! Keep it up!

Aho. Bless up to the elders and ancestors who struggled and struggle

Great song. He has a very Willie voice and delivery.

My brother in law is choctaw. I met his grandmother maybe 20 years ago. She was over 90 then. She remembered the the men with their head dresses. She said almost everyone that stayed out of the books made a good life for themselves. Those that stayed on the res saw the inverse.

Killed it, Vincent!

I’m actually from Toledo bend. This song is amazing.

This is what we need in country music. Thank you VNE

Maannnnnnn gave me chills!!

I’m actually going to add this song to my set list. 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

Great voice... really like this!

Vincent is such a cool guy

I hear a Townes vibe in there - and not just the waiting around to die line. Got a hint of Marie on that intro.

Woo! It's all great but the lyrics in that chorus are amazing.

Every good country song has a story

"Well you take away their homes and you claim what you don't own Well I guess it's still the American Way." Chilling.

A distant grandmother. Trail of tears it was passed down.

Just listened to Seminole Wind and it has a similar story. Very moving.

I could tell he’s native just by lookin at him lmao sending love from the Mohawks

Legend love the faces in your hand line.

Townes runs strong through this one. Damn fine song! 👍

Great song!! I’d love to see Bella White on CAF.

Awesome song well done.

“You take away their homes and you claim what you don’t own, well I guess that’s still the American way” too true brother!

Righteous!

This was great

Great song and singing man, sure would love the tabs so I could do this around the camp fire.

My grandparents are Cherokee and Choctaw and I feel the sorry my people felt

This is the voice to tell stories

Song Reminds me of when the tva did to a lot of ppl the same way.Tennessee has a lot of Cherokee land under water

Amazing work.

From a proud apache, thank you

...to the faces in your hand! Damn.

I LOVE YOUR VERSION OF Leon Russell's Manhattan Island Serenade♥️

I have those same Sansui speakers in the background there :)

More VNE content please

From Copenhagen , Denmark 🇩🇰🙏🇺🇸🎻🎼🎼🎼🎼🎼🎼🎼🎼🎼🎼🎼🎼🎼🎼🎼🎼🎼🎼🎼🎼🎼🎼🎼🎼

real country right here

Such a nice voice

Love the song. Definitely parts of it I get major Jolene vibes.

Kinda has a Willie twang to it. Nice work on a song dedicated to your tribe.

I live in the town in Alabama called Huntsville part of the ancestral land for which my dad’s people were forced to walk to OK and loads died on the way and there is actually a whole road called Andrew Jackson (the man who did it)…America has done nothing but awful to native folks and I’m glad to hear a country song like this #landback

A great songwriter

Sad to think that us Native Americans were treated like shit back then. Around the same time as this song dictates, the Cornplanter Reservation of the Seneca was destroyed for the Kinzua Dam. I can definitely feel the pain.

Sounds like North Country Blues by Dylan and Jolene combined. Very nice, VNE has it!

Because America is so unique in taking people's land...

Apache Pride! ✊

🔥🔥🔥