Indian Reservation

Don Fardon

About Indian Reservation

"Indian Reservation (The Lament of the Cherokee Reservation Indian)" is a song written by John D. Loudermilk. The song was first recorded by Marvin Rainwater in 1959 and released on MGM as "The Pale Faced Indian", but that release stayed unnoticed. The first hit version was a 1968 cover by Don Fardon — a former member of The Sorrows — that reached number 20 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 3 on the UK Singles Chart in 1970. In 1971, The Raiders recorded the song on the Columbia Records label, and it topped the Hot 100 on July 24. On June 30, 1971 the RIAA gold certified the record for selling over a million copies. The record was later certified platinum for selling an additional million copies. The song was the group's only Hot 100 number 1 hit and their final Hot 100 top twenty song. 


Year:
1988
1,091 
#6

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They took the whole Cherokee nation
Put us on this reservation
Took away our ways of life
The tomahawk and the bow and 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

Cherokee people, Cherokee tribe
So proud to live, so proud to die

They took the whole Indian nation
Locked us on this reservation
Though I wear a shirt and tie
I'm still part redman 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.

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Don Fardon

Don Fardon (born Donald Maughn, 19 August 1943, Coventry, Warwickshire) is an English pop singer. more »

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Written by: JOHN LOUDERMILK, JOHN D LOUDERMILK

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


21 facts about this song

HISTORY
"Indian Reservation (The Lament of the Cherokee Reservation Indian)" was first recorded by Marvin Rainwater in 1959, and was titled "The Pale Faced Indian". Don Fardon's cover wasn't released until ten years later in 1968.
ARTIST
Don Fardon is an English pop singer known for his covers. The "Indian Reservation" song is one of his most significant hits.
CHARTS
Fardon's version managed to hit number 20 on the UK Singles Chart in 1970 - the same year it was officially released as a single.
THEME
The song is a protest song relating to the problems and experiences of Native Americans in the United States. It speaks especially to the tribe of Cherokee who were forcibly moved from their lands in the 19th century.
REVIVAL
The song was later covered by the band The Raiders in 1971 and, unlike Fardon's version, it reached number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
MUSIC VIDEO
Despite being released at a time when music videos weren't popular, a music video was made featuring Don Fardon singing the song surrounded by Native American imagery.
CULTURAL IMPACT
The song remains quite popular and is frequently played on oldies radio stations, thus keeping the history of the Native American Cherokee tribe alive in popular culture.
WRITER
The song was written by John D. Loudermilk, an American songwriter, and singer. He stated the song was inspired by the real suffering and historical injustices faced by Native Americans.
LEGALITY ISSUES
There were some copyright issues around the song, as Fardon released his version before getting permission from the songwriter, John D. Loudermilk.
AWARDS
Despite the earlier controversy, Fardon's version of the song won an Ivan Novello Award for being among the 'Most Performed Works' of 1971.
Genre Classification
"Indian Reservation" is a song classified as Rock and Pop, with strong influences of Psychedelic Pop, which was a popular style in the era of its original release.
Reflective Lyricism
The lyrics of the song "Indian Reservation" reflect on the grave injustices suffered by the Native American populations as a result of European colonization.
Original Release
This song was initially released by Don Fardon in 1968.
Chart Performance
"Indian Reservation" proved to be very successful for Fardon – it reached number 20 on the UK Singles Chart in 1970.
Musical Elements
The song has distinctive musical elements that blend modern rock instruments with a Native American musical style, thereby creating a unique sound that complements its lyrical message.
Song's Cover Versions
While Don Fardon's version is perhaps the most well-known, "Indian Reservation" was also covered by other artists, most notably by Paul Revere & the Raiders, whose version was number one on the Billboard Hot 100 in the U.S in 1971.
Song Origin
"Indian Reservation" was originally written by songwriter John D. Loudermilk.
Longevity
Despite its somewhat controversial subject matter, the song remains popular today and is considered a classic of the late 1960s-early 1970s rock era.
Music Video
The music video of the song depicts Don Fardon wearing a Native American headdress.
Legacy
The song is considered one of the earliest pop/rock songs to deliver a political message, in this case about the American government's poor treatment of native populations.
Cultural Impact
"Indian Reservation" has left a significant cultural impact, serving as a musical reminder of the struggles of the Native American community. It has sparked many conversations about the realities of cultural oppression.

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