George Washington Bush

1 week ago by @riverman

George Washington Bush

riverman

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Liner Notes

I wanted to try a historical story-telling song format. This is about the first black pioneer who settled in Washington State in 1844 because he could not stay in Oregon due to "lash laws" and he being a black man. Isabella was his white wife.

Lyrics and phrasing need a lot of work, but I really need to move on. #Storytelling #Folk #acousticonetake #guitar

Lyrics

Chorus
Isabella, these wagon wheels,
they roll and they turn
But my home is still far away
A man wants to live in a place that is home
Anywhere he's welcome to stay
They tell me that I am not one of them
But I just want a place to stay

Verse 1
After 4 months of toil on the trail
Leading five other families
We all turned north at the Oregon border
Because they don't like what they see

Under threat of lashing for being a black man
We stayed on the trail for 8 weeks
Found a place we settled on near the Puget Sound
Started farming between the river and the creeks

Chorus

Verse 3
We grew grains and fruit on Bush Prairie
Farmland that was named after me
Helping any families heading through
With a place to stay, water and wheat

When Washington became a territory
It wasn't legal for me to own my land
But the legislature met and they all agreed
To let our property claim stand

Chorus

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