Paul Revere and the Raiders, Indian Reservation | FIERCE Pop + Rock 🔥🤘

In the 19^th edition of FIERCE Pop + Rock 🔥🤘, we highlight “Indian Reservation (The Lament of the Cherokee Reservation Indian)” performed by Paul Revere and the Raiders.

Bring on the bold, FIERCE tracks! FIERCE Pop + Rock 🔥🤘 provides background information and insight into pop, rock, and metal songs that raise eyebrows and stir the pot.  Featured records can be classic or brand new. In the 19^th edition of FIERCE Pop + Rock 🔥🤘 (2023), we explore 🎵 “Indian Reservation (The Lament of the Cherokee Reservation Indian)” performed by 🎙 Paul Revere and the Raiders.

“They took the whole Cherokee nation / Put us on this reservation / Took away our ways of life / The tomahawk and the bow and knife.” Sigh, what a [bleep] shame 😤 😡 🤬. Of course, 🎵 “Indian Reservation (The Lament of the Cherokee Reservation Indian)” is merely a song. Still, this classic, penned by 🎼 ✍ John D. Loudermilk (a white country musician/songwriter), does consider the history of Native Americans, specifically the Cherokees, being driven out of their lands by – wait for it – white folks 😏. Shocking, right (Rhetorical question, and you don’t have to be woke to know the answer).  Anyways, the most popular and successful version of the song arrives courtesy of 🎙 Paul Revere and the Raiders. Yes, just let that name sink in, and listen to the lyrics/message of the song (“Took away our native tongue / And taught their English to our young”).

Despite a lie Loudermilk told regarding the inspiration for writing the song, as well as the name of the band who earned a no. 1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 with it, “Indian Reservation (The Lament of the Cherokee Reservation Indian)” is a classic.  Paul Revere and company truly put their stamp on it with the instrumentation and production.  Keys including organ, guitars, vibraphone – decadent ear candy for a crossover audience! 🎙 Mark Lindsay sounds epic singing the lead vocals as he stands up for the – wait for it – “CHEROKEE PEOPLE, CHEROKEE TRIBE / So proud to live, so proud to die!”  Interestingly, in the second verse, while the Cherokee has adapted to unfortunate changes (“Though I wear a shirt and tie”), he is still who he was, somewhat (“I’m still part red man deep inside”).  Of course, it should be noted that red man/redskin is considered offensive today. Of course, Disney did far worse with 🎵 “What Makes The Red Man Red?” from Peter Pan – a children’s movie, mind you 🤦‍♂️!  All told, 🎵 “Indian Reservation (The Lament of the Cherokee Reservation Indian)” is a surefire rock classic.

🎙 Paul Revere and the Raiders • 💿 Indian Reservation • 🏷 Sony Music Entertainment • 📅 1971

Paul Revere and the Raiders, “Indian Reservation (The Lament of the Cherokee Reservation Indian)”: FIERCE Pop + Rock 🔥🤘 No. 19 (2023) [📷: Brent Faulkner / The Musical Hype; Sony Music Entertainment; Conna Lee, Madelin Berry, anna-m. w., Johan  Duran, RODNAE Productions via Pexels; Pete Linforth via Pixabay]