How do I feel listening to some of my favourite music? In this case saddened, disillusioned. The album is "Bitter tears" by Johnny Cash, the song is "As long as the grass shall grow" and here is part of the song:- George Washington gave his signature, the Government gave its hand; They said that now and forever more this was Indian land. As long as the moon shall rise, As long as the rivers flow, As long as the sun will shine, As long as the grass shall grow. I have based this on a photo, having never visited this area, so can you recognise it? And does it come within the terms of this months challenge? And finally how can I improve it. At present the only imports are my poser figs, and the front clump of grass. I will probably add some more frontal vegetation. and my trans maps need a little sorting out.

I'm strangely reminded of 'Soldier Blue'.... Nice render...great idea, although I don't recall the song.

I guess many people won't recall it. The original album was apparently withdrawn from sale is US because it was too controversial. I acquired a copy on vinyl some 18-20 years ago. It has now been re-released on cd by a german label to celebrate Johnny Cash's 70th birthday.

The composition seems to point to the sky...my eye gets pulled that way anyway. I wonder what it would look like if you had something kind of large and semi-transparent up there...a weeping set of eyes or something...not sure what but it's a thought.

I don't know that Johnny Cash song either, but it makes me think of The Ballad of Ira Hayes, as though you'd captured an image from Ira's childhood: Ballad of Ira Hayes Lyrics Ira Hayes, Ira Hayes CHORUS: Call him drunken Ira Hayes He won't answer anymore Not the whiskey drinkin' Indian Nor the Marine that went to war Gather round me people there's a story I would tell About a brave young Indian you should remember well From the land of the Pima Indian A proud and noble band Who farmed the Phoenix valley in Arizona land Down the ditches for a thousand years The water grew Ira's peoples' crops 'Till the white man stole the water rights And the sparklin' water stopped Now Ira's folks were hungry And their land grew crops of weeds When war came, Ira volunteered And forgot the white man's greed CHORUS: Call him drunken Ira Hayes He won't answer anymore Not the whiskey drinkin' Indian Nor the Marine that went to war There they battled up Iwo Jima's hill, Two hundred and fifty men But only twenty-seven lived to walk back down again And when the fight was over And when Old Glory raised Among the men who held it high Was the Indian, Ira Hayes CHORUS: Call him drunken Ira Hayes He won't answer anymore Not the whiskey drinkin' Indian Nor the Marine that went to war Ira returned a hero Celebrated through the land He was wined and speeched and honored; Everybody shook his hand But he was just a Pima Indian No water, no crops, no chance At home nobody cared what Ira'd done And when did the Indians dance CHORUS: Call him drunken Ira Hayes He won't answer anymore Not the whiskey drinkin' Indian Nor the Marine that went to war Then Ira started drinkin' hard; Jail was often his home They'd let him raise the flag and lower it like you'd throw a dog a bone! He died drunk one mornin' Alone in the land he fought to save Two inches of water in a lonely ditch Was a grave for Ira Hayes CHORUS: Call him drunken Ira Hayes He won't answer anymore Not the whiskey drinkin' Indian Nor the Marine that went to war Yeah, call him drunken Ira Hayes But his land is just as dry And his ghost is lyin' thirsty In the ditch where Ira died I agree that all that sky needs something, perhaps an eagle soaring? I don't recognize this location, but I do know that when the dams were being built, a lot of Indians and other people lost their land. Lin

Strangely enough Lin I have just put an eagle into the image. Ira Hayes is one of the tracks on the bitter tears album, along with such gems as "The vanishing race", "Apache tears", "Drums" and "Custer" Its a very thought provoking album.

Nice render, compliments :)

Beautiful scenery, Love their clothing. Johnny Cash is a great story teller. My parents played most of his music although I don't think I've heard this.

Great picture. Ira Hayes is one of my favorites.

th image is just simply amazing a mother and child man thats sweet

chohole, I think I remember reading about that treaty from a book called "Black Elk Speaks" although I don't think I ever heard the Johnny Cash song. Your render has the feel of the loss of the land we all feel now. Someday when the resources run out we all may be forced to return to the land - I hope that there is something left for us to return to by then. - TJ