Lyrics: The Wiyot threw their shells away Until that pile became a mound And that became their hollow ground On an island in what became Humboldt Bay
Then there came some prominent men From New England and Maritimes They sold the island to a German But even Robert Gunter found it was a crime
Robert Gunther found the Wiyot dead Yeah, axes cut them to the bones They didn't know the county paper said That splitting skulls in Humboldt was a rite de passage
The people sided with the axemen toughs The criticizers they were all run off They called Eureka Murderville For the children, women, old men that were killed
And in the sky above that town A cloud of steam makes it seem darker They didn't even put a marker Near the papermill and shanty oh so brown
Robert Gunter found the Wiyot dead Yeah, axes cut them to the bones They didn't know the county paper said That splitting skulls in Humboldt was a rite de passage That crossing the bar was a rite de passage
Notes: Produced by Nick Vincent Performed by Frank Black (guitar, vocals), Scott Boutier (drums), Rich Gilbert (guitar), David McCafferty (bass, backing vocals)
Quotes: [Question]: What is "Humboldt County Massacre" about?
Frank Black: Ponder the title. Therein lies the answer my son. - MusicToday.com Online Chat, January 28, 2001
"I have a new song called HUMBOLDT COUNTY MASSACRE about some Indians who were living in a little Island off of Eureka, California. There were some bad men in the area from the Eastern part of the United States that moved there and killed them all. Typical story from about a hundred years ago. The Indian Tribe is called the wiots. I don’t know if I’m saying it right." - Frank Black, InterFM Radio interview, March 23, 1998
