Written by John D. Loudermilk
A7 - 2 - / / D / / / 2 / / / 3 G They took the whole Cherokee nation D Put us on this reservation (for rest of verse, repeat pattern of above 2 lines): Took away our ways of life The tomahawk and the Bowie knife Took away our native tongue And taught their English to our young And all the beads we made by hand Are nowadays made in Japan Chorus: G (break) / D (break) / Cherokee people, Cherokee tribe G (break) / A7 D So proud to live, so proud to die Verse 2: They took the whole Indian nation Locked us on this reservation Though I wear a shirt and tie I'm still a red man deep inside (Chorus) Verse 3: But maybe someday when they've learned The Cherokee nation will return (vocal crescendo): D Will return, will return, will return, will return!