A5 - 2 - / / D5 / / / 2 / / / 3 

                             G5 
They took the whole Cherokee nation 
                    D5 
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: 
G5  (break)       / D5 (break)      / 
 Cherokee people,   Cherokee tribe 
G5  (break)        / A5            D5 
 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): 
D5 
Will return, will return, will return, will return!