Johnny Cash - Drums lyrics

From the Indian reservation to
The governmental school
Well they're going to educate me to
The white men's Golden Rule
And I'm learning very quickly for
I've learned to be ashamed
And I come when they call Billy
Though I've got an Indian name

And there are drums beyond the mountain
Indian drums that you can't hear
There are drums beyond the mountain
And they're getting mighty near

And when they think that they'd changed me
Cut my hair to meet their needs
Will they think I'm white or Indian
Quarter blood or just half breed
Let me tell you Mr teacher when
You say you'll make me right
In five hundred years of fighting
Not one Indian turned white


Well you thought that I knew nothing when
You brought me here to school
Just another empty Indian just
America's first fool
But now I can tell you stories that
Are burnt and dried and old
But in the shadow of their telling
Walks the thunder proud and bold

Long Pine and Sequoia
Handsome Lake and Sitting Bull
There's Magnus Colorado with his sleeves
So red and full
Crazy Horse the legend those who
Bit off Custer's soul
They are dead yet they are
Living with the great Geronimo

Well you may teach me this land's history
But we taught it to you first
We broke your hearts and bent your
Journeys: broken treaties left us cursed
Even now you have to cheat us
Even though you this us tame
In our losing we found proudness
In your winning you found shame