Because My Father Always Said He was the Only Indian Who Saw Jimi Hendrix Play "The Star-Spangled Banner" at Woodstock by Sherman Alexie

Purple Haze.

Incredible stuff right here.

And the longest short-story title of all time goes to...

Sherman Alexie’s Because My Father Always Said He Was the Only Indian Who Saw Jimi Hendrix Play "The Star-Spangled Banner" at Woodstock is nothing short of a masterpiece. I could go on endlessly about its brilliance, but I’ll keep it simple: this story is a perfect blend of humor, heartache, and razor-sharp storytelling that never misses a beat.

Told through the voice of Victor, the narrator, the story is a deeply personal reflection on his tumultuous upbringing on the reservation—specifically, his complex and often painful relationship with his father. Alexie masterfully balances sorrow and humor, never allowing the weight of tragedy to overwhelm the narrative, yet never undercutting the emotional depth with levity.  Just as you begin to feel the full weight of Victor’s grief and disappointment, a wry, darkly funny quip or observation reminds you of the resilience found in humor.

Beyond being an engaging and emotionally powerful story, it’s also rich in thematic depth. Alexie explores intergenerational trauma, the role of music as a form of healing, the lasting scars of colonization, indigenous identity, and racism. These themes never feeling forced or didactic but instead emerge organically from Victor’s reflections and experiences. Alexie’s ability to distill so much complexity and authenticity into such a short piece is remarkable. These characters are flawed, imperfect and feel real because they are portrayed with such empathy.  

The father-son relationship at the heart of the story is deeply complicated and layered with resentment, admiration, love, and loss. Through Victor’s memories, we see both the warmth and the wounds, the good and the bad. Storytelling itself becomes his way of processing his emotions, of reconciling the contradictions in his father’s character. And that ending, so good: a beautiful and emotionally charged moment with the haunting image of young Victor waiting on the porch for his father to return home. The author's terse language and imagery beautifully captures that aching blend of hope, disappointment, and love that defines so many father and son relationships found on the reservation.