Peter LaFarge / 5:14
Musicians
Bob Dylan: vocals, piano
Ron Cornelius: guitar
Al Kooper: organ
Charlie Daniels: bass
Russ Kunkel: percussion (?)
Hilda Harris, Albertine Robinson, and Maeretha Stewart: backup vocals
Recording Studio
Columbia Recording Studios / Studio E, New York: June 1, 1970
Technical Team
Producer: Bob Johnston
Sound Engineers: Don Puluse and Ted Brosnan
This song was written by Peter LaFarge in 1962. He was a friend with whom Dylan went out to Village clubs in the early 1960s. The song tells the story of one of the great acts of heroism in American history, which took place during the Battle of Iwo Jima in World War II (February 19–March 26, 1945). The Americans succeeded in conquering the Pacific island of Iwo Jima, located about 620 miles south of Tokyo, Japan. The picture taken by Joe Rosenthal—showing the raising of the American flag on Mount Suribachi by Ira Hayes, four other Marines, and a member of the medical team—became famous. Hayes was a Native American from the Pima tribe who lived on a reservation in Arizona before enlisting in the army. He was treated as a hero, but turned to alcoholism. Dylan sings, “He died drunk early one morning / Alone in the land he’d fought to save.”
After Peter LaFarge (Ira Hayes & Other Ballads, 1962) many artists recorded their own version of “The Ballad of Ira Hayes.” The most popular version is certainly by Johnny Cash, which was released on the album Bitter Tears (Ballads of the American Indian) in 1964. Six years later, Dylan recorded this ballad, keeping the idea of spoken verse and a singing chorus. The refrain also bears a curious resemblance to “The Man in Me,” recorded four days later on the album New Morning. One take was enough during the session on June 1, 1970. “The Ballad of Ira Hayes” is one of the best covers on the album, but Dylan has never performed it onstage. In the recording Dylan plays piano and provides an excellent vocal. The backing vocals bring a gospel touch to the piece, accompanied by Al Kooper on the organ. Note that, starting at 2:25, metallic percussion is heard, probably played by Russ Kunkel.