But the land was already claimed by a people
When the cowboy came and when the soldiers came
The story of the American Indian is in a lot of ways

A story of tragedy, like that day at Wounded Knee, South Dakota

Big Foot was an Indian chief

Of the Minneconjou band
A band of Minneconjou Sioux
From South Dakota land


Big Foot said to Custer
"Stay away from Crazy Horse"

But Custer crossed into Sioux land
And he never came back across


Then Big Foot led his people
To a place called Wounded Knee
And they found themselves surrounded

By the 7th Cavalry

Big chief Big Foot

Rise up from your bed
Minneconjou babies cry
For their mothers lying dead


Big Foot was down with a fever
When he reached Wounded Knee

And his people all were prisoners
Of the 7th Cavalry


Two hundred women and children
And another hundred men
Raised up a white flag of peace

But peace did not begin

An accidental gunshot

And Big Foot was first to die
And over the noise of the rifles
You could hear the babies cry


Big chief Big Foot
It's good that you can't see

Revenge is being wrought
By Custer's 7th Cavalry


Then smoke hung over the canyon
On that cold December day
All was death and dying

Around where Big Foot lay

Farther on up the canyon

Some had tried to run and hide
But death showed no favorites
Women, men, and children died


One side called it a massacre
The other a victory

But the white flag is still waving
Today at Wounded Knee


Big chief Big Foot
Your Minneconjou band
Is more than remembered here

In South Dakota land