The Cherokees believed in progress and strived for conformity
They changed their lifestyle, learned to write, established at a democracy
Although they had been subject to a lot of painful persecution
They believed the immigrants would honor law and constitution
The reward for all their efforts was the famous Trail of Tears
Maybe we will follow them to nothingness in future years
John Ross was chief of the tribe, a man of great authority
Major Ridge, the second chief, just led a small minority
It's quite common that a few decide about the fate of all
A few opponents from within can bring a nation to its fall
Ridge and his men sold their tribe, but died before the Trail of Tears
My tribe has been sold as well by men like Ridge in recent years
Then they walked a thousand miles through burning heat and freezing cold
Scarcely clothed and underfed, with little pride left to uphold
Sixteen thousand left their home, a third of them died on the way
All survivors knew they'd lose this alien land as well one day
They knew what a home is worth before they walked the Trail of Tears
We might notice too some day, it may just take a few more years