Broken Arrow
Robbie Robertson (with Bob Dylan): Broken Arrow
Quiz by Sharon Michiko Yoneda
"Who else is gonna bring you a broken arrow?"
"Who else is going to give you a bottle of rain?"
(Colonials signing treaties with the aboriginal people) "Do you feel what I feel. Can we make that so it's part of the deal?"
The results of a broken arrow treaty....this was the deal.
artist: Robbie Robertson
songwriter: Robbie Robertson
date released: 1999 by Robbie Robertson
A bundle of five arrows represents one of the five founding tribes of the Iroquois League. One arrow could easily be broken, while a bundle of five arrows would remain strong. Crossed arrows were symbols of friendship. A broken arrow was a symbol of peace.
Robertson's Broken Arrow is a powerful love ballad with a strong sense of mysticism in its lyrics and sound. Robertson is part Mohawk and weaves that mythology into a lot of his music. In this song, the “broken arrow” and “bottle of rain” are symbolic offerings given by somebody seeking a peaceful and lasting bond.