The Ballad of Helen Back ©Bernard/Gallup/Quin 2002 Her daddy was a merchant Heading for the Pacific coast With her and her mother to start up a trading post. Just inside Montana Their wagon was attacked. He was scalped and her mama caught An arrow in the back. (Chorus) Pulled barefoot through Yellowstone, With its stinking sulphur smell. Steam erupting from the ground an earthly view of hell. Countless pools of bubblin' mud Along that rocky track Her memory still clearly sees Her trip to hell and back Wrists tightly tied with green rawhide She was dragged to summer quarters. Old shaman woman raised her up More like a slave than daughter. Beaten nearly every day They shaved her golden locks. All the while, reviled, she grew up wild With the instincts of a fox. (Chorus) When the Calvary came thunderin' in Many Blackfoot lost their lives When the battle died they were surprised to see a girl with pale blue eyes. They gave her to the preacher Name of Parson Jackson James He and his wife pleaded with her to take their family name. ...but she said, (Chorus..changed) I've walked barefoot through Yellowstone with its stinkin; sulphur smell, Where steam erupts out of the ground so don't preach to me of Hell. I burnt my feet on bubblin' mud Along that rocky track That's why I choose this name to use, ...call me Helen Back
