Native American culture is rich in history and unique beliefs surrounding the mystery of life on Earth.
Through all the hardships the community has generationally faced, it’s hard to fathom how much of the people’s ancient culture may have been wiped out by the ruthless indoctrination forced upon them by European invaders.
Music plays its own part in preserving and revering the incredible heritage and history of the Native American people, carrying an abundance of songs that glorify the peace of the nature, while condemning the terror which needlessly befell them.
Our list of songs covers it all, from tracks detailing historical atrocity and perseverance, to songs which summon the power in you to be proud of your heritage and stand up against the racism which continues to follow the community by the tail.
Songs About Native Americans
1. Paul Revere & The Raiders – Indian Reservation
Paul Revere & The Raiders’ 1971 rock song depicts the unjust downfall of the Cherokee tribe at the hands of the new-world invaders, in an impeccably progressive yet meaningful style.
They lace musical mastery with sombre reflections of the truth, writing their song from the perspective of a Native American to highlight the community’s ancestral struggles.
From the dislocation of America’s native people, “They took the whole Cherokee nation, put us on this reservation,” to the despicable brainwashing and attempted erasing of generational culture and wisdom, “Took away our native tongue, and taught their English to our young,” The Raiders are fearless in their representation of history’s horrific events, highlighting an important sentiment that outlasts any disaster; “Though I wear a shirt and tie, I’m still part redman deep inside.”
2. Taboo – Stand Up / Stand N Rock #NoDAPL
Taboo’s discography gives us a fresh modern take to songs about Native Americans. Drawing upon his own heritage, Taboo’s truth and sentiments appear to come straight from the horse’s mouth.
Stand Up is a song protesting the Dakota Access Pipeline which threatened to impact the Standing Rock reservation.
This is a track that calls together the descendants of the Native American community to fight the power which continues to decimate the beauty of their natural lands, an aspect held so closely to their ancient way of life.
His chorus rallies his people to hold their strength up in the face of their opposition, “To my native people, recognise yourself, keep your head up, to all my tribal people, recognise yourself, keep your head up… One nation, one cause, one people, one tribe, now it’s us against the pipeline.”
3. Kings Of Leon – Manhattan
Kings Of Leon’s album track, Manhattan, from their iconic 2008 indie rock album, ‘Only By The Night,’ isn’t about the New York district we know today.
In an interview, the band’s frontman explained, “Manhattan is actually a Native American word that means ‘island of many hills,’” crafting his song around the golden age of pre-Columbus North America and reminiscing on the era when the continent and its people were truly free.
Kings Of Leon illustrate the bounty of a youthful, blossoming culture centred in nature, peace and the rhythms of the Earth, “We’re gonna fuel the fire, gonna stoke it up, we’re gonna sip this wine, and pass the cup.”
Hunting references aside, the ancient Manhattan which Kings of Leon evoke is not too dissimilar from the community of the area today.
4. Grateful Dead – Sunrise
Sunrise sonically and scenically captures the earthy tones of the forests and the dancing sunlight which scatters its beams through the leaves overhead.
Grateful Dead paint a lush picture of prehistoric peace, rich with imagery synonymous with tribal culture in a way which is deeply illustrative of the elemental forces of nature revered by the Native people;
“Gazing at the fire, burning by the water, before he speaks, the world around us quiets, with eyes as sharp as arrows, and turning to the fire, he clears the air and cuts it with a feather.”
This song is a serenade of purity, power and respect of an ancient way of life, seeking to cast light upon the peace inherent to Native American beliefs.
5. Iron Maiden – Run To the Hills
Iron Maiden’s 1982 single Run To The Hills made it to #3 in the UK charts, despite being a relentlessly graphic heavy metal take on the pillaging and destruction of the Native American community by British and European soldiers.
Iron Maiden’s lyrics open brazenly, with the paralleled marching force of their harmony, “White man came across the sea, he brought us pain and misery, he killed our tribes, he killed our creed, he took our game for his own need,” while paying due respect to the native’s battle for their freedom, “We fought him hard, we fought him well, out on the plains, we gave him hell.”
What makes this song shocking as a top 5 hit, is its shameless but much needed exposure of the horrific acts the Native Americans were put through upon their own cherished soil, “Soldier in blue in the barren wastes hunting and killing their game, raping the women and wasting the men… enslaving the young and destroying the old.”
6. David Brent- Native Americans
Native Americans, taken from the Ricky Gervais film ‘David Brent, Life On The Road,’ is an ironic and satirical take on an uneducated white man’s surface-level perceptions of the Native American culture.
Like all of Gervais’ work, it treads a fine line between outrageous wit and outrageous insensitivity, but we’ve included it for his characters innocently hilarious attempt at educating the audience through (questionable) music about the strengths and history of Native American culture;
“White man’s eyes too blind to see a gentle race so wild and free… Native American, soar like an eagle, sit like a pelican, don’t call us Indians, we’re more like West Eurasians crossed with Siberians.”
7. Europe – Cherokee
Europe’s 80s glam rock hit Cherokee details the persecution of the Native American people upon the land which is rightfully theirs.
Using the power of pure rock and roll, Europe drive home the story of change and loss that struck the Native people, leading to their captivating chorus line, “Cherokee – marching on the trail of tears.”
Throughout their song, they bind peaceful, dusty landscapes together with the timeless scenery of the heavens, while threading in the cruelty that thwarted Native Americans, forcing them to form an exodus to escape the terror of their invaders;
“They were driven hard, across the plains, and walked for many moons, cause the winds of change had made them realise, that the promises were pain.”