Legacy

It was a professional game played at Massillon, Ohio and Rockne was on
The Massillon Tigers and I was on the Canton Bulldogs. And he played left
End and I was playing left halfback. Consequently, I had to go around his
End. And he slipped through and tackled me for a couple yard losses. And I said
"That a boy rock.' I said, 'you're doing fine but,' I said, 'look at the people
Come up here to see old Jim run. How about letting old Jim run?' And he said
'Well if you think you can get away with that,' he said, 'I'd like to see it.' So the next
Time I carried the ball around, I hit him in the side of the head with my knee
Spindled off for a 60-yard touchdown and on the point after touchdown, why
Here come Rock with a player under each arm, all wetted down with a sponge
And I walked up and patted him on the shoulder and said, 'that a boy, Rock
You let old Jim run, didn't you

His momma was a matriarch, Mother of eleven born
Poppa was a patriarch, worked on the farm he was big and strong
Momma's name was Charlotte Vieux, Potawatomi Menominee and Kickapoo
Poppa's name was Hiram Thorpe, a Sac and Fox and Irish dude

Excuse my muse I excused her French, mom didn't raise him to be warming bench
Descendants of the trail of death survival flowing in her skin
No wonder why he played to win, Hiram built his blaze within
Thunder Clan related them to Black Hawk a true chief of men

The first to join Tecumseh and the last to fight in his region when
Keokuk sat down and gave right in, Hiram made a point to relay this to Jim
Toughened Jim up when he played with him, taught him how to hunt and till the land
Hiram looked like Black Hawk's twin, a highly respected and fearless man

One of few in his tribe who could read & write said you need an education to beat the whites
Vowed that his kids would be smarter than him, beat his competition in sports and fights
Legend has it he'd frequent Keokuk Falls
Seven deadly saloons, bootlegging drunk and heeding calls

Witnessed a drunken gun fight the victim was sunken this night
The victor was brolic unruly thinking, no one could shoot me
And said, who can disprove me then heard, boy you behoove me
And saw, his fear inducing in form of Hiram removing

Himself from his seat to prove it, he put his finger in the deceased
Man's wound and licked it clear.. I'm sorry Hiram, I didn't know you was here