Em Am
They took the whole Cherokee nation
Em
Put us on this reservation
Am
Took away our ways of life
Em
The tomahawk and the bow and knife
Am
Took away our native tongue
Em
And taught their English to our young
Am
And all the beads we made by hand
Em
Are nowadays made in Japan
Bm
Cherokee people, Cherokee tribe
Em B7
So proud to live, so proud to die
Em Am
They took the whole Indian nation
Em
Locked us on this reservation
Am
Though I wear a shirt and tie
Em
I'm still part redman deep inside
Em Bm
Cherokee people, Cherokee tribe
Em B7
So proud to live, so proud to die
Am
But maybe someday when they've learned
Em Am Em Am Em Am
Cherokee nation will return, will return,
Am
will return, will return, will return