Vincent Neil Emerson | "The Ballad of the Choctaw-Apache" | Western AF

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  • čas přidán 25. 08. 2021
  • Vincent Neil Emerson | "The Ballad of the Choctaw-Apache"
    ...
    Off of the new record, Vincent Neil Emerson plays "The Ballad of the Choctaw-Apache" from his self-titled album.
    We got to meet VNE this summer in Nashville for a La Honda Records showcase. It was wonderful to finally meet the maestro of "Sad Boy" songs. The new record is amazinginging and you too can hear this masterpiece where music is streamed.
    Among other things, it's a crying shame to see such little representation from indigenous in the country music world. We hope this song can pave the way to more Native songwriters to come and be apart of our channel.
    It's been a privilege getting to know VNE and we're happy to debut this video.
    ...
    More music from the Vincent Neil Emerson on:
    vincentneilemerson.com/
    CZcams: tinyurl.com/ec9vysmd
    Instagram: vincentneil...
    Facebook: / thelostines
    Mixed and Mastered by: John Wilhelm
    Executive Producer: Johnny Callahan
    Special thanks: Travis "Rural Sultan" Blankenship & Connie "New Denim Connie" Collingsworth
    Producers: Brian Harrington & Mike Vanata ( Square State Film )
    All rights reserved 2021 © Square State Film
    For more WESTERN AF videos and content visit www.westernaf.net/
  • Hudba

Komentáře • 224

  • @broadwaynicky
    @broadwaynicky Před 2 lety +240

    Although we may ignore it, we are truly in the midsts of an alternative/"americana"/folk-oriented/"southern gothic" country renaissance. I'm happy to say my generation has VNE, Colter, Crockett, Arman, Ferrell, Childers, Simpson, and Zach Bryan carry the torch of the true American sound.

    • @keithwaynejones
      @keithwaynejones Před 2 lety +6

      love sierra 👍

    • @fipbip2794
      @fipbip2794 Před 2 lety +9

      Don't forget John Moreland!

    • @broadwaynicky
      @broadwaynicky Před 2 lety +2

      @@fipbip2794 I forgot other artists in my list that make that quality music such as Mike and The Moonpies and Flatland Cavalry.

    • @kylatokki22
      @kylatokki22 Před 2 lety +2

      Really just wanted to tell you how much it warms my heart to see someone else use the term “southern gothic”

    • @mfort8487
      @mfort8487 Před rokem +17

      You forgot Benjamin Tod

  • @elliehill9165
    @elliehill9165 Před rokem +21

    As a Native I greatly appreciate this song and thank you for speaking the truth!!! ✊🏼 Osiyo✊🏼

  • @c.w.johnsonjr6374
    @c.w.johnsonjr6374 Před 2 lety +67

    Thank you for this song, Vincent. My mother's family was displaced by the Texas government. My grandfather helped the government locate and remove old pioneer and Native America graves. He also told them to get the timber out of there as soon as possible because he had seen how fast the creeks had risen during rain storms. Of course they didn't listen and almost to this day you can still see the tops of trees sticking out of the lake's surface. The anger of some of the residents is still palatable. When one of my uncles, who has sadly passed on, was asked if he wanted to go a ceremony marking the 50th anniversary of the dam's construction, he asked if he could bring dynamite.

    • @Alternate_Titles
      @Alternate_Titles Před 2 lety +3

      Came to see Americans with sandy blonde beards and blue eyes writing novellas about the squaw back in their family tree and how de white man is de debil for providing the electricity that you're all hopelessly addicted to by building a dam.
      10/10 so far.

    • @montanawalker8819
      @montanawalker8819 Před rokem +6

      @@Alternate_Titles What is wrong with you my guy

    • @Alternate_Titles
      @Alternate_Titles Před rokem

      @@montanawalker8819 This is a goldmine of Amerimutt cringe my guy.
      You realize this is concentrated humor for the rest of us I am sure.
      Morbidly obese "Native American" complaining about muh dam and muh lands between happy meals? It is the stuff of comedy programs.

  • @User-gfys-0icu81
    @User-gfys-0icu81 Před rokem +4

    You’re talking about my grandfather. He left the tribe and moved us to New Caney. I’ve filled out my enrollment papers yesterday. I’m coming home.

  • @mpbx3003
    @mpbx3003 Před 2 lety +78

    The epitome of "three chords and the truth" country. Been a fan of VNE for a long time now, but I think this is the best song he's done. You can feel how much it means to him, and that always means good music. Thank y'all so much for bringing us this version.

    • @Pine_01
      @Pine_01 Před 2 lety +1

      Cringe pfp

    • @tdc_2021
      @tdc_2021 Před 2 lety +3

      I counted at least 4 chords ;-)

  • @jriv186
    @jriv186 Před rokem +3

    good song, cousin! the northern Choctaw Apache in Arkansas supports you!

    • @Rocky6032
      @Rocky6032 Před měsícem +1

      You're cousin wrote a good song.

  • @Spaceplant109
    @Spaceplant109 Před 2 lety +18

    God bless Vincent and everyone keeping the old sound and stories alive

  • @onwarddaisy2811
    @onwarddaisy2811 Před 2 lety +48

    One of the best songs put out this year.

  • @jays2551
    @jays2551 Před 2 lety +17

    he's such a talented songwriter; from hilarious songs that will have you laughing throughout to haunting existential pondering to celebrations of his cultural heritage, he has an incredible range and soaring talent

  • @jadenbales
    @jadenbales Před 2 lety +16

    Excellent song and incredible storytelling for folks who don't have as much a voice. AHO!

  • @tlars515
    @tlars515 Před 2 lety +19

    Saw him play it at a small record store show… powerful song

  • @darylgaskinsmusic9593
    @darylgaskinsmusic9593 Před 2 lety +7

    From one writer to another, this guy is something else. He’s an amazing song writer for sure

  • @gravesx000
    @gravesx000 Před 2 lety +12

    Goddamn yes. Love this. Dislikes are from people who don’t want to open their eyes

    • @Alternate_Titles
      @Alternate_Titles Před 2 lety +1

      White man: Builds dam, floods valley, provides electricity to entire area. Builds hospitals, schools, roads, restaurants, etc.
      Obese Injun 2020: Despite my clear addiction to the refrigerator and fast food restaurants, and my obvious lack of ability to survive without air conditioning and regular medical treatment, I'm going to complain about this whole dam situation. Because my ancestors, who would have been disgusted by my very appearance much less my total domestication, had to move to build the dam that allowed me to become the lump of shit I am today.
      Amerifats 2021: Like, open your eyes, man. If you don't like the fat indian's song you're, like, ignorant, man. Like, yeah. Like. Wow.
      Seriously climb up on something high and jump.

  • @timsweeney9558
    @timsweeney9558 Před 2 lety +9

    Wow. VNE was already one of my favourite young artists...this brought a tear to my eye. Thank you Vincent and Western AF.

  • @meganinthemountains
    @meganinthemountains Před 5 měsíci +2

    A masterclass in imagery and metaphor!

  • @dnaucoin
    @dnaucoin Před 10 dny

    Hi Cuz! Registered tribal member of the Choctaw-Apache Tribe of Ebarb here! You've got a great voice!

  • @christopherwescott551
    @christopherwescott551 Před 2 lety +5

    This song brought tears to my eyes and chills to my bones. I could feel the emotions and see the heartache and pain.

  • @TheFIREFLAME53
    @TheFIREFLAME53 Před 2 lety +9

    I’m a simple man, I see VNE, I like.

    • @timsweeney9558
      @timsweeney9558 Před 2 lety

      Yeah man! I was clicking like as I pressed play. This one's so good I would like it twice.

  • @28happenstance
    @28happenstance Před 2 lety +40

    As a Cajun descendant and native of Louisiana, as well as a former resident of Texas, he is right. No one really talks about what happened to the Native American Tribes in Louisiana or East Texas.
    It is great to see this topic brought up in such a fantastic song.

    • @garrisonkelley7053
      @garrisonkelley7053 Před 2 lety +3

      Orange Texas here.

    • @28happenstance
      @28happenstance Před 2 lety +2

      @@garrisonkelley7053 Currently Ascension Parish, by way of EBR Parish, and Harris County.

  • @ComedyBros5
    @ComedyBros5 Před 2 lety +12

    No working artist or lyricist quite like VNE. This song stopped me dead in my tracks when I heard it off his new album - shivers down my spine! Didn’t know this part of history even existed. Wish more folks would give this man a listen!
    And as always, absolutely gorgeous production value, WesternAF!

  • @ocranger
    @ocranger Před 2 lety +3

    One of my favorite country western artists. Can listen to his albums straight through.

  • @dylanlowers5236
    @dylanlowers5236 Před rokem +3

    The flute in the studio version is breathtaking

  • @kelsey8436
    @kelsey8436 Před 2 lety +8

    You’re not alone in this fight. It’s inspiring to see someone singing these tales.
    See, i’m not Choctaw Apache, but i’m from a part of rural Northern California that’s facing similar struggles. When the feds came in here in the early 1900s, there was no lobbying power to fight them. They took our cities and the tribes cultural cites- and they drowned them.
    A city of 10,000 people (Kennett CA) was forced out, now sits under hundreds of feet of stolen water. The winnemem wintu (14k) forced out of their homes, faced a cultural genocide when unable to maintain their livelihood anywhere else. The list goes on…
    Now today, our river beds run dry because of all the water they have taken. They’ve killed the salmon that are sacred to our surrounding tribes. The townships are running out of water, and the state is decreasing our allowance from the lakes they built from our rivers. People are unable to afford their water bills in an area so once so bountiful.
    We need to speak up. This needs to stop.

  • @Guy1105Fawkes
    @Guy1105Fawkes Před 2 lety +12

    Damn, this song is good!

  • @CravingSimplicity
    @CravingSimplicity Před 2 lety +4

    Keepin country music alive!

  • @hankgunn83
    @hankgunn83 Před 2 lety +15

    This is the best song that's been on here in a long time and he's got a great natural voice.

  • @shyngo
    @shyngo Před 9 měsíci +1

    Having grown up in the area this was written about and being a descendant of that tribe, this is powerful stuff. I'm glad someone is singing about it.

  • @heres1-two-cents
    @heres1-two-cents Před 2 lety +5

    Need more of theses stories

  • @wyattbreymeyer4033
    @wyattbreymeyer4033 Před 2 lety +3

    i would pay any amount to hear vincint sing jolene

  • @jordanmcmichael2075
    @jordanmcmichael2075 Před 2 lety +4

    Stumbled on to your channel from a recommended vid on RadioWV. Gotta thank the algorithm when it provides gold! So happy to have found not only you, but Vincent among many others! Take my sub and I look forward to what the future holds!

  • @joshu4780
    @joshu4780 Před 2 lety +6

    Vincent, I just "found you" over on the IG channel. Know some folks up in Ebarb. Y'all got them good tamales too.

  • @zachroberts7417
    @zachroberts7417 Před 2 lety +7

    Killed it, Vincent!

  • @Brad_Bowden
    @Brad_Bowden Před 2 lety +6

    Maannnnnnn gave me chills!!

  • @daviddunkin7454
    @daviddunkin7454 Před 2 lety +5

    Nice to hear a song with true meaning… great stuff thanks

  • @jeffcmo1957
    @jeffcmo1957 Před 2 lety +5

    Great song. He has a very Willie voice and delivery.

    • @bigmac51290
      @bigmac51290 Před 2 lety

      It reminds me of Blackjack County Chains.

  • @Fowlerman54
    @Fowlerman54 Před 2 lety +4

    Vincent is such a cool guy

  • @unculturedswine7993
    @unculturedswine7993 Před 2 lety +4

    Oh good, it's back on! I was worried when it was temporarily taken back down.

  • @whistlenaway3660
    @whistlenaway3660 Před 2 lety +3

    Well sung sir. Very beautiful and heartfelt.

  • @retriever19golden55
    @retriever19golden55 Před 2 lety +2

    Great voice... really like this!

  • @larryschmid3834
    @larryschmid3834 Před 2 lety +2

    Good effort Neil. U shoudl be proud of this song, and the empathy in your heart. Good move doing songs about social order in your style that is growing in maturity and depth. Good job.

  • @bodyzoasispersonaltraining9186

    Aho. Bless up to the elders and ancestors who struggled and struggle

  • @northcummins7226
    @northcummins7226 Před 2 lety +7

    Been stuck on this song for a week now. Cant get over how he presents it

  • @stbeeze
    @stbeeze Před 2 lety +2

    It is a beautiful song, which is what most people are commenting on. But, having Cherokee Indian blood I truly understand the place in your heart where the words and origin of the song came from. It’s easy for people to forget and brush aside the raw deals and treatment that were forced upon all Native Americans.
    I’m proud that you took the time to remind us all.

    • @Alternate_Titles
      @Alternate_Titles Před 2 lety +1

      Lol. They love the electricity that warms up the terrible food and keeps the alcohol cold, but they also love to complain about the source of the electricity and the people who provide it to them.
      So fake hahaha, you're all so damn fake.

  • @sirdouglas2010
    @sirdouglas2010 Před 8 měsíci

    Incredible. You have made a lifelong fan Vincent Neil Emerson. My family is from NM and my grandfather and his siblings were stolen from his parents (Mescalero Apache) and sent to a Boarding School, they were returned eventually but were beaten and even permanently disabled. It has hurt our family so much over the decades.

  • @user-bs4ck6zy8v
    @user-bs4ck6zy8v Před rokem +1

    Big round of applause to this young man, gave us indigenous a voice. Aho 🪶

  • @WILDBILLSOUTDOORS
    @WILDBILLSOUTDOORS Před 2 lety +1

    Ebarb, Converse, Zwolle, Toledo town, Circle Drive, man I've been all over that country fishing the Bend. Awesome song, bud thanks for sharing!

  • @aquavirgio
    @aquavirgio Před rokem +1

    I could feel my abused ancestors pushing their emotions through me during this. Thank you for writing this 💜

  • @rockytop_discgolf_7076
    @rockytop_discgolf_7076 Před rokem +1

    Your a good man. Blessings to you and yourn... for what it's worth....

  • @flatpickinpete
    @flatpickinpete Před 2 lety +1

    Wow! That was soulful, beautiful and from the heart.

  • @mikeei954
    @mikeei954 Před 2 lety +3

    Brother that it dont mean a thing to the faces in your hand woah nice simple but deep. Love this

  • @cedarriver
    @cedarriver Před 2 lety +18

    Incredibly powerful song, absolutely love this one!
    Chords and lyrics below folks, have fun playing! Formatted on Ultimate Guitar in a few hours as well
    Capo on 4, Standard tuning
    Intro Am G Am / Am G Am
    Verses Am C G Am / G Am G Am / G C G F / Am G Am G Am (repeat everything once)
    Chorus F C G Am / F C G / F C G Am / G Am
    Interlude Am G Am / Am G Am
    Interlude 2 Am C G Am / G Am G Am / G C G F / Am G Am G Am
    [Intro]
    [Verse 1]
    Well the East Texas wind was whistlin' through the pines
    And I followed it down to Lousiane
    There is a tribe and it ain't too hard to find
    Where the rich man came and flooded all the land
    They had no mercy on the people old and young
    They were blinded by the silver on their tongues
    All the land that they take, just to build themselves a lake
    Well it ain't worth all the lives that you forsake
    [Chorus]
    Well 180,000 acres of ancestral land
    That Sabine river bottom, flooded by the dam
    I am a proud Choctaw-Apache man
    But it just don't mean a thing to the faces in your hand
    [Interlude]
    [Verse 2]
    Well back in 1963 the land of the proud, the brace and the free
    But it ain't that way for everyone you see
    They washed out the land so be careful where you stand
    Like a boulder fallin' on a grain of sand
    Well I hope that dirty reservoir was worth all the lives you scarred
    And the people you left hangin' out to dry
    Well lord knows that tried their best to turn the tide
    But there ain't no sense in waitin' 'round to die
    [Chorus]
    Well 180,000 acres of ancestral land
    That Sabine river bottom, flooded by the dam
    I am a proud Choctaw-Apache man
    But it just don't mean a thing to the faces in your hand
    [Interlude]
    [Verse 3]
    Well my granny was a native from the parish of Sabine
    And she raised her children the best way she knew how
    They lived off the earth back before the times of dearth
    They counted on the seed and the plow
    But the crops they all drowned in the water rushin' down
    Only 25 bucks an acre they were paid
    Well you take away their homes, then you claim what you don't own
    Well I guess it's still the American way
    [Chorus]
    Well 180,000 acres of ancestral land
    That Sabine river bottom, flooded by the dam
    I am a proud Choctaw-Apache man
    But it just don't mean a thing
    No it just don't mean a thing
    Well it just don't mean a thing
    To the faces in your hand
    [Outro]

    • @johnmccoy1254
      @johnmccoy1254 Před 2 lety +1

      Thank ya kindly Man. Much appreciated.

    • @ethanchristie4207
      @ethanchristie4207 Před 2 lety

      Thank you so much for this!
      P.s. it's Sabine River Bottom
      Either way great tabs

    • @cedarriver
      @cedarriver Před 2 lety

      @@ethanchristie4207 You're absolutely right, corrected it. Thanks!

  • @timmytguitar1771
    @timmytguitar1771 Před rokem +1

    This is great! Vincent continue what you’re doing.

  • @RedCulture49
    @RedCulture49 Před 2 lety +1

    As a Choctaw i love it. I didn't know he was Choctaw as well. Just heard a few song before i knew. I like him then and better now.

  • @russellhughes4496
    @russellhughes4496 Před 2 lety +2

    Awesome song well done.

  • @fitztastico
    @fitztastico Před 2 lety +5

    This was great

  • @datlilbit8323
    @datlilbit8323 Před 8 měsíci

    IMA 8th Generation SHELBY COUNTY REPRESENTATIVE! THANK YOU FOR WRITING THIS ✍️

  • @briannefultonmiller2956
    @briannefultonmiller2956 Před 2 lety +1

    Saw him a couple of months before the pandemic began with Colter Wall. He was great. I’m glad to see him getting featured here.

  • @swaydewelborn117
    @swaydewelborn117 Před 2 lety +2

    I’m actually from Toledo bend. This song is amazing.

  • @nelgnella4314
    @nelgnella4314 Před 2 lety +1

    Legend love the faces in your hand line.

  • @redheadedrainman5142
    @redheadedrainman5142 Před 2 lety +10

    This is what we need in country music. Thank you VNE

  • @User-gfys-0icu81
    @User-gfys-0icu81 Před rokem

    I’m actually going to add this song to my set list. 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

  • @Thekidfromcalifornia2.0
    @Thekidfromcalifornia2.0 Před 2 lety +3

    Every good country song has a story

  • @jamieross5848
    @jamieross5848 Před 2 lety +1

    Such a nice voice

  • @emmanate28
    @emmanate28 Před rokem

    Just listened to Seminole Wind and it has a similar story. Very moving.

  • @curlybill1025
    @curlybill1025 Před 2 lety +2

    Woo! It's all great but the lyrics in that chorus are amazing.

  • @American-Dragon
    @American-Dragon Před 2 lety +1

    My brother in law is choctaw. I met his grandmother maybe 20 years ago. She was over 90 then. She remembered the the men with their head dresses.
    She said almost everyone that stayed out of the books made a good life for themselves. Those that stayed on the res saw the inverse.

  • @tylerroney
    @tylerroney Před 2 lety +4

    I hear a Townes vibe in there - and not just the waiting around to die line. Got a hint of Marie on that intro.

  • @sanjuancb
    @sanjuancb Před 2 lety +5

    Shades of Townes in there with "waiting around to die." Fantastic work! Keep it up!

  • @jonnyw82
    @jonnyw82 Před 2 lety +4

    Great song!! I’d love to see Bella White on CAF.

  • @muleskinner1975
    @muleskinner1975 Před 2 lety +9

    My granny's land is a state park now she was Cherokee outta West Virginia songs means alot to me as well

    • @Ricks90
      @Ricks90 Před 2 lety

      Wich one brother

    • @muleskinner1975
      @muleskinner1975 Před 2 lety

      @@Ricks90 twin falls state park I believe some of the family still stay around the outside of the park

    • @dwhunter8904
      @dwhunter8904 Před 2 lety

      muleskinner1975 Beech Fork state park (WV) took ours. Lots of history and graves destroyed so city people had a place to walk their fuzzy little dogs and pull in high dollar campers.

    • @Ricks90
      @Ricks90 Před 2 lety +1

      @@muleskinner1975 i got ya sham its not in ur family still but atleast it ain't row houses

  • @mdiggity2000
    @mdiggity2000 Před 2 lety +1

    Amazing work.

  • @hardnosefishing9832
    @hardnosefishing9832 Před 7 měsíci

    From a proud apache, thank you

  • @mixermanbear.4002
    @mixermanbear.4002 Před 2 lety +3

    Righteous!

  • @larryschmid3834
    @larryschmid3834 Před 2 lety +1

    A distant grandmother. Trail of tears it was passed down.

    • @BADNDN
      @BADNDN Před 9 měsíci

      I talked to my grandmother on the phone yesterday 😂 she’s not distant.

  • @gillythakid2000
    @gillythakid2000 Před 2 lety +7

    ❤️ to all my native people out there, I love yah.

  • @ngumbao6252
    @ngumbao6252 Před 2 lety +1

    This is the voice to tell stories

  • @Ollieshini
    @Ollieshini Před 2 lety +1

    This slappppeeddddddd 🔥 🔥

  • @nwjeatran
    @nwjeatran Před 2 lety

    Great song and singing man, sure would love the tabs so I could do this around the camp fire.

  • @jakers_9852
    @jakers_9852 Před měsícem

    I could tell he’s native just by lookin at him lmao sending love from the Mohawks

  • @Auntkekebaby
    @Auntkekebaby Před 2 lety +1

    A great songwriter

  • @LNielsenDK
    @LNielsenDK Před 8 měsíci

    From Copenhagen , Denmark 🇩🇰🙏🇺🇸🎻🎼🎼🎼🎼🎼🎼🎼🎼🎼🎼🎼🎼🎼🎼🎼🎼🎼🎼🎼🎼🎼🎼🎼🎼

  • @savagetellurian4087
    @savagetellurian4087 Před 2 lety

    So good.

  • @teamlamedetroit8407
    @teamlamedetroit8407 Před 2 lety +1

    ...to the faces in your hand! Damn.

  • @blakeabig8416
    @blakeabig8416 Před 2 lety +1

    I have those same Sansui speakers in the background there :)

  • @viclehtinen3359
    @viclehtinen3359 Před 2 lety +1

    real country right here

  • @wardhayden1203
    @wardhayden1203 Před 2 lety

    Nice!

  • @wesleytinsley5571
    @wesleytinsley5571 Před 2 lety +1

    Song Reminds me of when the tva did to a lot of ppl the same way.Tennessee has a lot of Cherokee land under water

  • @lomig7800
    @lomig7800 Před 2 lety +2

    Superbe

  • @tchombre1992
    @tchombre1992 Před 2 lety +1

    Love the song. Definitely parts of it I get major Jolene vibes.

  • @randallruyle530
    @randallruyle530 Před 2 lety +1

    Well done- texas

  • @tacolegs2833
    @tacolegs2833 Před 2 lety +1

    "Well you take away their homes
    and you claim what you don't own
    Well I guess it's still the American Way."
    Chilling.

  • @vimig2284
    @vimig2284 Před rokem

    I LOVE YOUR VERSION OF
    Leon Russell's Manhattan Island Serenade♥️

  • @colbs7625
    @colbs7625 Před 2 lety +2

    More VNE content please

  • @jacoblee5716
    @jacoblee5716 Před rokem +1

    Navajo Nation! ✊️

  • @morganw.2473
    @morganw.2473 Před 2 lety +5

    Townes runs strong through this one.
    Damn fine song! 👍

  • @murraykirk5865
    @murraykirk5865 Před 2 lety +1

    “You take away their homes and you claim what you don’t own, well I guess that’s still the American way” too true brother!

    • @Alternate_Titles
      @Alternate_Titles Před 2 lety +1

      ...they moved them, at the government's expense, to flood the valley, at the government's expense, to provide electricity to the entire half of the state.
      Murray why aren't you smarter than this. What is the explanation for how dull you are.

  • @kuyadrake3978
    @kuyadrake3978 Před 2 lety +1

    My grandparents are Cherokee and Choctaw and I feel the sorry my people felt

  • @el_chief_dannyboy
    @el_chief_dannyboy Před 2 lety +2

    Apache Pride! ✊

  • @snarkypuppy7142
    @snarkypuppy7142 Před rokem

    wow.

  • @reddrooster60
    @reddrooster60 Před 2 lety +1

    🔥🔥🔥