The trail of tears began for the Cherokee
The white man came to trade and borrow
But then, they would not leave
Some of us were taken by boat and died at sea
Those of us who lived were sold to slavery

We welcomed them as brothers
Knowing nothing of their greed
Born hunters, not the hunted
As the white man hunts for me
We are descendants of the animals
We live among them free
Our trail of tears would end
One day at Wounded Knee

Great Spirit, thunder birds fly
We are wild and free
To fight and die by the open sky
Spirit Horse, ride for me

When we do the ghost dance
The buffalo will return
Paint ourselves for war
Now blood and fire burn
Great Spirit, make us strong
Take us to the sky
The Cherokee are brave
We are not afraid to die
Great Spirit, thunder birds fly
We are wild and free
To fight and die by the open sky
Spirit Horse, ride for me

Red Cloud, Black Hawk, Sitting Bull
Crazy Horse, Geronimo
Strong and brave, warriors to the grave

There has been much killing
There will be much more
The medicine man is dancing
He's calling us to war
Hatches sing with pride
Let the white man die

Great Spirit, thunder birds fly
We are wild and free
To fight and die by the open sky
Spirit Horse, ride for me

Great Spirit, thunder birds fly
We are wild and free
To fight and die by the open sky
Spirit Horse, ride for me
Great Spirit, thunder birds fly
We are wild and free
To fight and die by the open sky
Spirit Horse, ride for me