Hmmm... I am interested in this ballad for several reasons. I think it captures a certain mournful quality that is often lost when traditional songs become 'popularized'. It also seems to be an American ballad that has been transmitted almost entirely by word of mouth within families (the 'domestic tradition'). Yes, it does portray Indians as "bloodthirsty savages". Does it perpetuate that myth, or is it simply an example of deep theme in American culture: The Indian as the Other(?). I could name a number of 'great ballads' that are not politically correct by the standards of the twenty-first century. Should we expect traditional music to reflect modern points of view? Should a song or ballad be ignored if it does not?