The Amboy Dukes released a number of albums with Mainstream Records. Having run their course with Mainstream Records, they signed with Polydor Records around 1970. At this time Amboy Dukes song titles would display such period flavor as "Why Is a Carrot More Orange Than an Orange" and "The Inexhaustible Quest for the Cosmic Cabbage"; the latter number was a multi-part epic that incorporated both Béla Bartók and The Beach Boys.
The band quickly grew tired of Polydor Records and signed with Frank Zappa's DisCreet (Warner Brothers) label. They released two more albums and then broke up.
While the other Amboy Dukes receded into obscurity, Nugent, as the "Motor City Madman", became a very successful and quite visible solo musician, hunter, and political controversialist.
The disparity in career outcomes has led to differing recollections among the former Dukes about what happened during the band's lifetime. Nugent claims to have been the leader of the band, and at times the "babysitter" for the rest of the band, and that when he took a few months off the band fell apart. And despite the apparent drug references of many of their songs, Nugent fervently denies significant drug use.
The other members of the band, such as Steve Farmer, viewed the band differently. They say guitarist Farmer and singer Drake were the main songwriters and the de facto leaders of the Amboy Dukes; Nugent was not the "leadman". In an interview , Farmer deprecated Nugent's creative role in the Amboy Dukes, and mentioned some rather embarrassing personal details about Nugent. From Farmer's point of view, Nugent was the one who needed babysitting - he was a spoiled brat and none too intelligent. Farmer did emphasize that Nugent was the only member not involved in drug activity and promiscuous sex with groupies, so on that matter everyone is in agreement.
The Great White Buffalo
The Amboy Dukes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
To what I got to say.
There's hope for tomorrow,
Ooh, we're workin 'on today.
Well, it happened long time ago,
In the new magic land.
The Indian and the buffalo,
They existed hand in hand
The Indian needed food,
He needed skins for a roof.
But he only took what they needed,baby.
Millions of buffalo were the proof.
Yeah,its all right.
But then came the white man,
With his thick and empty head.
He couldn't see past the billfold,
He wanted all the buffalo dead.
It was sad
It was sad.
Oh yeah, yes indeed.
Oh yes,
It happened a long time ago, baby.
In the new magic land.
See, the Indian and the buffalo,
They existed hand in hand.
The Indians, they needed some food,
And some skins for a roof.
They only took what they needed,baby.
Millions of buffalo were the proof, yeah.
But then came the white dogs,
With their thick and empty heads.
They couldn't see past the billfold.
They wanted all the buffalo dead.
Everything was so sad.
When I looked above the canyon wall,
Some strong eyes did I see.
I think its somebody comin' around
To save my ass,baby.
I think, I think he's comin' around
To save you and me.
Boys
I said, above the canyon wall
Strong eyes did glow.
It was the leader of the land,baby.
Oh my God
The great white buffalo
Look out! Look out!
Well,he got the battered herd.
He led 'em cross the land.
With the great white buffalo,
They gonna make a final stand.
The great white buffalo,
Comin' around to make a final stand.
Well,look out here he comes.
The great white buffalo, baby.
The great white buffalo
Look out, here he comes.
He's doin' all right.
Makin' everything all right.
Yeah, yeah, yeah
The Great White Buffalo by The Amboy Dukes is a song about the relationship between Native Americans and buffaloes. The song starts by talking about how in the old days, the Native Americans and buffaloes existed together in harmony. Native Americans used buffaloes as a source of food and clothing, but they never took more than what they needed. However, things changed when the white men arrived with their greedy ways. They saw buffalo just as a potential source of profit and did not think twice about hunting them down until the point of extinction.
The song is largely critical of the way the white men treated the buffalo and how it affected the Native American way of life. The great white buffalo is a metaphor for a savior that will come and set things right. The leader with strong eyes that the singer sees above the canyon wall is believed to be the great white buffalo that will save the tribes and lead them to a final stand.
The song serves as a reminder to Americans about the dark history that the country possesses. Through it, one can learn a lot about the plight of Native Americans and how the white men showed little regard for their cultural practices and way of life.
Line by Line Meaning
Well, listen everybody,
The singer is calling for attention
To what I got to say.
The singer has something important to share
There's hope for tomorrow,
The future can be better than the present
Ooh, we're workin 'on today.
Improvement starts today
Well, it happened long time ago,
The following story took place in the past
In the new magic land.
In a place with strong cultural and spiritual significance
The Indian and the buffalo,
Referring to the deep spiritual connection between Native American indigenous people and the buffalo
They existed hand in hand
The two coexisted peacefully
The Indian needed food,
The buffalo provided crucial resources for survival
He needed skins for a roof.
The buffalo provided materials for shelter
But he only took what they needed, baby.
The Native American people did not waste or overuse the resources they obtained from the buffalo
Millions of buffalo were the proof.
There were abundant buffalo herds once in America
But then came the white man,
The story shifts to a time when white settlers arrived in North America
With his thick and empty head.
The singer perceives white people as ignorant and destructive
He couldn't see past the billfold,
The white settlers only see the monetary value in killing buffalo, ignoring their spiritual and cultural significance
He wanted all the buffalo dead.
The settlers wanted to eliminate the buffalo herds completely
It was sad
The artist is expressing his sadness over the destruction of the buffalo herds
Oh yeah, yes indeed.
The singer agrees with his statement about the tragedy of buffalo annihilation
Oh yes,
The singer continues his agreement with his own statement
It happened a long time ago, baby.
The artist is reminding the listeners of the chronology of events he is referring to
See, the Indian and the buffalo,
Repeating the earlier statement about Indigenous people and buffalo
They existed hand in hand.
Repeating the earlier statement about peaceful coexistence
The Indians, they needed some food,
Repeating the earlier point about the importance of buffalo to Indigenous peoples
And some skins for a roof.
Repeating the earlier point about Indigenous peoples using all buffalo resources sparingly
But then came the white dogs,
Using an intentionally derogatory term to describe the settlers (dehumanizing them)
With their thick and empty heads.
Emphasizing the singer's view of white people as foolish and purposeless
They couldn't see past the billfold.
The settlers were destructive to the environment because they saw the natural resources as commodities
They wanted all the buffalo dead.
Consolidating the earlier statement that they only saw buffalo as a resource to exploit and eliminate
Everything was so sad.
Expressing frustration and sadness over what happened to the buffalo population
When I looked above the canyon wall,
Introducing a turn of events and indicating a change of scenery
Some strong eyes did I see.
Seeing the leader of the land as someone who has come with a plan to save the situation
I think its somebody comin' around
Having a positive outlook about the future
To save my ass, baby.
Using colloquial language to denote the imminent danger and trouble they are in
I think, I think he's comin' around
The artist is strongly convinced that the leader is coming
To save you and me.
Assuring that their future is secure and the person coming will be of help
I said, above the canyon wall
Repeating the earlier scene and emphasizing the importance of who they saw
Strong eyes did glow.
Adding a new detail regarding the person's physical appearance to show that they are serious and determined
It was the leader of the land, baby.
Clarifying the importance of the person who was seen earlier on
Oh my God
Expressing the surprise in a dramatic way
The great white buffalo
The artist realizes that the person is here to save them - the white buffalo is a metaphor for the leader
Look out! Look out!
Encouraging everyone to pay attention and prepare for what is about to happen
Well, he got the battered herd.
The leader saved the remaining buffalo herds
He led 'em cross the land.
The leader successfully saved and crossed the surviving buffaloes to new land
With the great white buffalo,
The metaphorical leader who saved them
They gonna make a final stand.
The buffaloes saved by the leader will thrive in a new land and will make a final stand for their survival
The great white buffalo,
Referring again to the symbolic leader who saved them
Comin' around to make a final stand.
Emphasizing the role of the leader in saving them and the significance of the remaining buffaloes
Well, look out here he comes.
Reiterating the importance of being alert
The great white buffalo, baby.
Repeating the importance of the metaphorical leader
The great white buffalo
Reiterating the symbolic importance of the leader
Look out, here he comes.
Repeating the call for everyone to pay attention and be ready
He's doin' all right.
Expressing satisfaction with the performance of the leader and his ability to save them
Makin' everything all right.
Finally, everything has been made right by the leader and the buffalo will thrive again
Yeah, yeah, yeah
Expressions of relief, joy, and faith in the future
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Ted Nugent
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Craig
One of THE all-time great classic rock riffs!
Doug Sherman
The cool thing about Brother Ted and his band was the live music sounded as good as the studio recordings. Ted has great talent but abstaining from drugs and drinking and then practicing constantly made him a guitar great.
Ian Stukenborg
Like the comment, but he didn't "Practice constantly", he spent a lot of time outdoors doing healthy things. Andres Segovia said the same thing...you practice can and should practice UP TO.. 5 hrs a day, but you need to break it up with gardening and outdoor things.
G McIrish
Live this riff. Heard it years ago once and stuck in my head.
Rob Price
He’s good at everything he does and stands up for what he believes! That’s admirable whether you agree or not! ❤️
mark radtke
I agree!
Patrick Gibbons
We need more people like him ... peace.
Alexis Aleyras
1:31 That SNEAKY double cowbell hit.. DAMN, every time!
Anthony Headrick
Legendary Rock Guitarist.
Craig Kosters
Back in 75/76 my Silver Trans Am rocked this 8/track, we had the best times back then, everything was great and thats why we need to make it great again!