Fardon also released a cover version of "Running Bear". In 2006 he re-released his single, "Belfast Boy", in tribute following the death of George Best.
It is believed that prior to becoming a singer he worked as a draughtsman for Albert Herberts Ltd in Coventry.
Indian Reservation
Don Fardon Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
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.
The lyrics to Don Fardon's "Indian Reservation" are a powerful statement about the injustices committed against Native American tribes throughout history. The song speaks specifically about the Cherokee tribe and their forced relocation from their ancestral land to reservations. Fardon's lyrics describe the traumatic experience of having their language, traditions, and way of life taken away from them as the colonizers forced them to assimilate into Western culture.
The line "They took the whole Cherokee nation, put us on this reservation" references the Indian Removal Act of 1830, which was signed into law by President Andrew Jackson. The act forced Native Americans, including the Cherokee, to leave their land and relocate to Indian Territory in what is now present-day Oklahoma. This forced relocation became known as the Trail of Tears and resulted in the deaths of thousands of Native Americans due to disease, starvation, and exposure.
Fardon goes on to lament the loss of Cherokee culture, including their weapons, language, and handmade crafts. The line "all the beads we made by hand are nowadays made in Japan" serves as a poignant reminder of the legacy of cultural erasure that continues to impact Native American communities today.
Despite the trauma and injustice inflicted upon them, Fardon's lyrics highlight the resilience and pride of the Cherokee people. The repeated phrase "So proud to live, so proud to die" speaks to the enduring strength and spirit of the Cherokee tribe, who have survived centuries of colonialism and oppression.
Line by Line Meaning
They took the whole Cherokee nation
The entire Cherokee community was forcefully removed from their homeland.
Put us on this reservation
They forcefully settled the Cherokee people on a designated land.
Took away our ways of life
They robbed the Cherokee people of their customs and traditions.
The tomahawk and the bow and knife
Their weapons were taken from the Cherokee people.
Took away our native tongue
The Cherokee language was prohibited and the English language was forced upon them.
And taught their English to our young
New generations were forced to learn and communicate in English.
And all the beads we made by hand
Hand-made beadwork was no longer part of their lives.
Are nowadays made in Japan
Even their traditional crafts are now imported from Japan.
Cherokee people, Cherokee tribe
A reference to the Native American tribe, the Cherokee.
So proud to live, so proud to die
The pride of the Cherokee people in their life and culture.
They took the whole Indian nation
All Indian tribes were subjected to being forced to reservations.
Locked us on this reservation
The Indian tribes were confined to a specified area, the reservation.
Though I wear a shirt and tie
Despite adopting western clothing and customs.
I'm still part redman deep inside
The singer still identifies as Native American despite their adaptations to Western culture.
But maybe someday when they learn
Perhaps in the future when they have a better understanding.
Cherokee nation will return, will return, will return, will return, will return.
The Cherokee people will reclaim their culture and traditions and their nation and homeland will be restored.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: John D Loudermilk
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@TheOldrecordclub
If anyone would like to see some home movies i made on the island of Mindanao, then follow this Link to one of my other channels https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0hwKbgDOd0sWeUaii08d-A Everyone is welcome... Carl
@cindycrowley4208
This is my favorite version of this song. It was later copied but this sounds more authentic.
@jgmdewilde8078
Indeed the best song!
@sandyward5344
Absolutely agree
@joachimburkhardt655
Sorry, but there is no coverversion getting close to, no one -:)
@mario9181
Agree
@bladeemerson318
This is the best version, but it's a cover of a 1950s Marvin Rainwater song.
@karenbova4781
I'm using my wife's sign on but I am speaking for me...This song gave me the chills when it came out in 1970 and I feel no different hearing it today. Being part Algonquin Canadian tribe from my Grandmother I learned so much from her as a young boy, also from my Dad...I grew up with respect for nature and all that the creator has given us.....Far to may people in their greed would destroy all of the gifts God has given us and in turn we will destroy ourselves...Through visions The Native American & Canadian way of way of life will someday return but as an older man I don't believe I'll be around to see it...It was a good way and perhaps it will once again heal our lands
@michaelbrandt5416
Absolutely agree with you. I just finished reading a book written by Lakota medicine man Archie Fire Lame Deer that came out in 1992 and it truly touched my heart. I have always had a life long fascination for the true original inhabitants of America ever since as a child, i read the American heritage book series "Indians of the Plains" published in a Danish version back in 1966. I became familiar with it in 1967 at the age of 4 and has to this day a high regard for the painting by Frederich Wimar depicting a band of indians taken off with a white man´s horse. Although it has a romantic touch and thus is less accurate in portraying the true natives, it nevertheless give the viewer an idea of the time. Lame Deer tells in his book about the time he worked as a stunt man in various westerns, among them "A man called horse" where he was technical advisor and befriended english actor Richard Harris, who in the film portray a white english lord captured by the Sioux around 1830s. he undergo a ritual sun dance ceremony having his breast muscles pierced and hoisted up toward the ceiling of the tipi he is in, hoping to have a vision and thus get an indian woman as a wife. lame Deer was horrified that the film makers made a mockery of the sun dance, since it was the Mandan tribe who practiced this extreme self torture as depicted by George Catlin and Boehmer back in those days, not the Sioux or Lakota. He also told of how indian extras in films were told to speak some lines in their native tongue saying such sentences as "White man speak with forked tongue". In reality they actually ridiculed the white actors saying things like "white man has little dick and cannot raise it". No wonder Indians seeing those films had a good laugh, leaving "white Eyes" perplexed. In solidarity with nature, i abstain from eating meat, egg and fish because these creatures are being consumed on a massive scale, where abundance of food quantities are unnecessarily wasted. I truly hope that all natives get their lands back in some way. May your Wanka Tanka watch over you and grant you health and long life.
@paultaylor7082
Great version by Don Fardon, it was recorded in 1968 but only became a hit in late 1970, getting to Number 3 in the UK. Paul Revere & The Raiders version got to Number 1 in the US the following year. Don was another fine musical export from the City of Coventry...