Cherokee
Hank Williams Jr. Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Well, a Cherokee chief as he dances along
He does an Indian boogie to a white man's song
Singin' hey ho a lina, hey ho a lina
A well a hey ho a lina, wup wup a witten a yeah

Well, he dances over here and he dances over there
And he keeps on a dancin' everywhere
Singin' hey ho a lina, hey ho a lina
A well a hey ho a lina, wup wup a witten a yeah

Well, he dances on the hill and he dances on the rock
But he keep on shakin' that tomahawk
Singin' hey ho a lina, hey ho a lina
A well a hey ho a lina, wup wup a witten a yeah

Well, he sings to the hills and he sings to the clouds
And he keep on singin' so big and proud
A now hey ho a lina, hey ho a lina
A well a hey ho a lina, wup wup a witten a yeah

He's a Cherokee chief as a you might know
And he keeps on sittin' singing nuven-yo
A now hey ho a lina, hey ho a lina
A well a hey ho a lina, wup wup a witten a yeah

Well, a Cherokee chief as he dances along
He does an Indian boogie to a white man's song




Singin' hey ho a lina, hey ho a lina
A well a hey ho a lina, wup wup a witten a yeah

Overall Meaning

Hank Williams Jr.'s song "Cherokee" is a tribute to the Cherokee people and their rich cultural heritage. Throughout the song, Williams describes a Cherokee chief who is dancing and singing to a "white man's song." The chief's movements are described as a "boogie" and he is shown to be dancing with pride and joy.


The lyrics of the song convey a sense of historic unity between the Cherokee and the white settlers. The chief's dance represents a blending of two cultures and traditions, and the song speaks to the idea that people from different backgrounds can come together to create something beautiful.


Through this song, Hank Williams Jr. honors the Cherokee people and their contributions to American culture. He paints a picture of a proud and resilient people who have endured countless obstacles and have managed to maintain their traditions and values in the face of adversity.


Line by Line Meaning

Well, a Cherokee chief as he dances along
Here we have a Cherokee chief who is dancing to music that was likely made by white people.


He does an Indian boogie to a white man's song
The chief is doing a native dance but to the beat of a European or American style song.


Singin' hey ho a lina, hey ho a lina
He is vocalizing with rhythmic words to the beat of the music to express his excitement.


A well a hey ho a lina, wup wup a witten a yeah
Similar to the previous line, he is singing along with the beat of the music, using nonsensical syllables.


Well, he dances over here and he dances over there
The chief is dancing all around, possibly showing off his skills to others or perhaps just enjoying the music.


And he keeps on a dancin' everywhere
He never stops moving to the beat of the music presented so he can keep dancing non-stop.


Well, he dances on the hill and he dances on the rock
The Chief moves to the rhythm of the music whether it is on a hill or rock formation, it doesn't matter where the beat takes him.


But he keep on shakin' that tomahawk
Here he possibly is showing his tribal weapon around as he moves and enjoys the music.


Singin' hey ho a lina, hey ho a lina
Once again, he rejoices with vocalized words to the beat of the music.


A well a hey ho a lina, wup wup a witten a yeah
The chorus repeats and the chief continues to vocalize along with the music.


Well, he sings to the hills and he sings to the clouds
Perhaps he is serenading nature as well, calling all the spirits of the natural world to join him in his dance.


And he keep on singin' so big and proud
He sings with conviction and pride, expressing the joy he feels in dancing to the beat of the music.


A now hey ho a lina, hey ho a lina
He once again uses nonsensical yet rhythmic sounds to vocalize and celebrate the music.


A well a hey ho a lina, wup wup a witten a yeah
The chorus repeats and he continues to enjoy the dance and the music.


He's a Cherokee chief as a you might know
The singer reminds us that this person is a tribal leader.


And he keeps on sittin' singing nuven-yo
The chief is still there, sitting, humming a lullaby to sooth himself still to the beat of the music.


A now hey ho a lina, hey ho a lina
Repeating what he did before once again to express the excitement of the revelry.


A well a hey ho a lina, wup wup a witten a yeah
Dancing to the music and doing random vocalizations without any meanings.


Well, a Cherokee chief as he dances along
Finally, the song ends the way it begun, with the Cherokee chief dancing to the beat of the music made by the white people.


He does an Indian boogie to a white man's song
The Chief continues to dance to music that may not have ancestral roots, but still enjoys the beat.


Singin' hey ho a lina, hey ho a lina
One final vocalization of joy to express his happiness and satisfaction of the dance.


A well a hey ho a lina, wup wup a witten a yeah
The final chorus repeats and the Chief continues to enjoy the beat of the music.




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: DONNY R. LOWERY

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found

More Versions