Indian Reservation
Raiders Lyrics

They took the whole Cherokee nation
The government forcefully removed the entire group of Cherokee people from their ancestral land.

Put us on this reservation
The Cherokee were confined to reservations that were designated for them as a result of their displacement.

Took away our ways of life
The government stripped the Cherokee people of their traditional customs and activities.

The tomahawk and the bow and knife
Traditional weapons used by the Cherokee for hunting and protection were confiscated by the government.

Took away our native tongue
The Cherokee language was forbidden, and English was imposed as the standard language for communication.

And taught their English to our young
The government ensured that the younger generation of Cherokee learned and spoke English instead of their native language.

And all the beads we made by hand
The Cherokee people were known for their beadwork; however, this was taken over by the Japanese industry.

Are nowadays made in Japan
The handcrafted beadwork by the Cherokee people was replaced by industrialized production by Japan.

Cherokee people, Cherokee tribe
This line refers to the Cherokee people as a group or tribe.

So proud to live, so proud to die
The Cherokee people were extremely proud of their cultural heritage, traditions and way of life, even in the face of oppression and persecution.

They took the whole Indian nation
The term 'Indian nation' refers to all indigenous people who were conquered by European colonizers and their descendants.

Locked us on this reservation
The 'reservation' system was established to restrict Native Americans to designated areas, limiting their freedom significantly.

Though I wear a shirt and tie
The lyric suggests that even though the singer may have assimilated to western culture, his Native American heritage remains a significant part of his identity.

I'm still part redman deep inside
The term 'redman' was used to denote Native American people. Here, the singer indicates that his culture and heritage are still an inextricable part of his identity.

But maybe someday when they learn
The singer suggests that perhaps others will come to learn that the oppression and violence against Native Americans was cruel and unjust.

Cherokee nation will return, will return, will return
The song expresses a hope that one day the Indigenous people of America, including the Cherokee, will regain their rightful place in society as they once existed before European colonization.