They took the whole
Cherokee Nation
And put us on this reservation
Took away our ways of life
The tomahawk
and the bow and knife
They 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
Cherokee people
Cherokee tribe
So proud to live
so proud to die
They took the whole
Indian Nation
And locked us on this reservation
And though I wear
a shirt and tie
I'm still a red man
deep inside
Cherokee people
Cherokee tribe
So proud to live
so proud to die
But maybe someday
when they learn
Cherokee Nation will return
Will return
Will return
Will return
Will return
They took the whole
Cherokee Nation
And put us on this reservation
Took away our ways of life
The tomahawk
and the bow and knife
They 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
Cherokee people
Cherokee tribe
So proud to live
so proud to die
They took the whole
Indian Nation
And locked us on this reservation
And though I wear
a shirt and tie
I'm still a red man
deep inside
Cherokee people
Cherokee tribe
So proud to live
so proud to die
But maybe someday
when they learn
Cherokee Nation will return
Will return
Will return
Will return
Will return