Willie Nelson

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Rattlesnake Annie in collaboration with Amy Nelson recently shared a powerful version of Willie Nelson’s and Amy Nelson’s A Peaceful Solution. While researching the article for A Peaceful Solution we watched Goodbye to a River and read the story that gave birth to this classic song. We felt compelled to share this song from a one-of-a-kind musician with you.

Willie Nelson Peace Research Institute wishes to thank Rattlesnake Annie for permitting us to show you her classic performance of Goodbye to a River. Rattlesnake Annie became a citizen of the world 30 years ago when she became dispossessed from her dream. The first Nuclear Power Plant was built in Texas destroying her land and home on the Brazos River.

This song conveys the gut wrenching sadness Rattlesnake Annie felt when she realized the life she had created vanished before her eyes. She sincerely shared her deepest feelings through this song and the world responded. Goodbye to a River became the vehicle, which launched Rattlesnake Annie’s international career.

Rattlesnake Annie continues her journey for peace and understanding today by sharing her heartfelt music throughout the world. Rattlesnake Annie and her songs show us that the key to a worthwhile life entails standing up for what you believe.

Lyrics to Rattlesnake Annie’s song:

Goodbye to a River

Goodbye to a river

Goodbye to the trees

Goodbye to the night birds that sing in the breeze

They’re building a dam and it’s too late to cry

Brazos de Dios, adios goodbye

I love you in springtime

When the wildflowers bloom

I love your summer skies

With its big yellow moon

I love you in autumn

And when the whippoorwills call

I love your people

Most of all

The men with the power

Say it’s just what we need

But I’ll tell you folks

It’s a matter of greed

They’ll dam up the water

And cover our land

Then chalk it all up

To advancement of man

Publisher: © 1976 Ann McGowan Music Inc. BMI (International Copyright Secured)

* * * * * Rattlesnake Annie’s story about the song * * * * *

I wrote “Goodbye to a River” in 1976 in Texas.

I was living by the side of the Brazos River with my husband and our two sons, Lynn and Al. We were located between Palo Pinto and Mineral Wells, Texas.

Our land had not been lived on since the Indians were removed from the mid 1800s.

We built everything we needed on our land with our own hands. We grew our own food, had chickens for eggs, goats for milk and horses for fun.

We put all of our hopes and dreams in our beloved ranch on the river and thought that it would be our home place forever. It was like paradise, surrounded by nature, wild flowers, wild animals, the sounds, the sights, and each moment the miracles of Mother Nature!….the river!

Then, the first nuclear power plant in Texas was build very close to our home.

It was built near Glen Rose, Texas. They built it on Comanche Peak, which was historically the sacred meeting place for Indian tribes in the area to discuss peace.

Of course, we felt like it was too dangerous to live so near the Nuclear Power Plant, which was only a few kilometers down the river. So, we decided that we must leave our land and home.

We had a party for our dearest friends called “The Great American Give-Away” and gave away all our life-long possessions of art, books and various treasures.

Since that time I do not value material possessions. Now I know that you can never really own anything.

We left the river in 1977..…”Brazos de Dios , Adios Goodbye”.

The popularity of this song launched my international career, and it has been recorded in many different languages.

The Brazos River is the longest river in Texas. It is 1,400 km (870 mi) generally southeast across Texas to the Gulf of Mexico southwest of Galveston.

It was named by the Spanish “Brazos de Dios”.

“Brazos de Dios” in Spanish means “Arms of God”

Brazos = arms

de = of

dios = god

“Adios” is a Spanish word meaning “goodbye”

adios = goodbye

* * * * * Rattlesnake Annie’s Peace Bio * * * * *

1. USA

PEACE MOVEMENT

Took part in many activities

Protested, Vietnam War and Draft

Protested, National Guard killing of students at Kent State

2. CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT (many protest activities)

wrote “Free The Children”

3. WOMEN’S RIGHTS, EMPOWERMENT OF WOMEN IN THE SOUTHERN UNITED STATES

wrote “Southern Discomfort”

wrote “Apple Pie Blues”

4. AMERICAN INDIAN PROTEST ALCATRAZ ISLAND

wrote- “Reservation Blues”

5. NUCLEAR POWER (protest) Texas first Nuclear Power Plant was build on Comanche Peak

wrote “Goodbye to a River”

6. PALO DURO CANYON, TEXAS Comanche Indian’s home, to bring awareness to our younger generation, of the genocide committed against Native Americans

wrote “Comanche Tears”

7. AMERICAN FARMERS PROTEST ON WASHINGTON (Framers drove their tractors to Washington from all over USA)

wrote “Trail of Tears”

8. 1989 CZECH REPUBLIC, VELVET REVOLUTION

wrote “Letter to Olga”

9. JAPAN-SHINSHU EXPO BENIFITED CHEROKEE INDIAN CHILDREN

1992:

Oklahoma City, Oklahama USA — Governor Walters declared august 24 “Rattlesnake Annie Day” in the state of Oklahoma for outstanding service to the Cherokee Indian Nation.

wrote- “Indian Dream”

wrote- “Mother Mountain”

WILMA MANKILLER, FIRST WOMAN CHIEF OF CHEROKEES HONORED RATTLESNAKE ON BEHALF OF THE CHEROKEE NATION FOR OUTSTANDING SERVICE

wrote “Cherokee Eyes”

10. KOBE JAPAN EARTHQUAKE 1995

I went to Kobe shortly after earthquake and played in tent villages, public buildings, places where thousands of people were living who had lost their homes.

Also I went every year for 5 years following the earthquake to sing in memorial services.

wrote-“Great Hanshin Earthquake”

11. CHERNOBYL CHILDREN BENEFIT

1996:

Tokyo, Japan

Concert with Tokiko Kato

recorded “Revolution” with Tokiko Kato

12. JAPAN & SPAIN BENEFIT CONCERTS FOR TUSNAMI

13. PRISONS IN USA AND EUROPE (concerts to bring awareness to the death penalty and prison reform)

wrote “Prison Blues”

14. ISLA MUJERS MEXICO RED CROSS BENEFIT

Isla Mujeres, Yucatan, Mexico-Rattlesnake Annie annual benefit concert for the Red Cross to aid the Mayan Indians.

15. Willie Nelson FARM AID concerts, late 80s

16. INDIA-INTERNATIONAL WOMENS DAY (empowerment of Indian Women)

17. AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL concerts (awareness of Human Rights)

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Tags: Arts, Environment, Peace

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