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Music by Elton John
Lyrics by Bernie Taupin
Available on the album Madman Across The Water
As I awoke this evening with the smell of wood smoke clinging
Like a gentle cobweb hanging upon a painted tepee
Oh I went to see my chieftain with my warlance and my woman
For he told us that the yellow moon would very soon be leaving
Ebm Ebm9
This I can’t believe I said, I can’t believe our warlord’s dead
Abm/Eb Ebm7
Oh he would not leave the chosen ones to the buzzards and the soldiers guns
Ebm9 Ebm Ebm9
Oh great father of the Iroquois ever since I was young
Abm/Eb Ebm9
I’ve read the writing of the smoke and breastfed on the sound of drums
Ebm Ebm7
I’ve learned to hurl the tomahawk and ride a painted pony wild
Ebm9 Abm/Eb Ebm9
To run the gauntlet of the Sioux, to make a chieftain’s daughter mine
Ebm
And now you ask that I should watch
Ebm7 Ebm9
The red man’s race be slowly crushed
Ebm Abm/Eb
What kind of words are these to hear
Ebm9
From Yellow Dog whom white man fears
Ebm Db B Db Ebm
Ebm Db B Db Ebm
Abm D7 D(b5) D7
G Bm/F# Em G/D C Am/D Em D
I take only what is mine Lord, my pony, my squaw, and my child
G Bm/F# Em G/D C Am/D Em D
I can’t stay to see you die along with my tribe’s pride
Am7 D G C/G
I go to search for the yellow moon and the fathers of our sons
Em7 Am7 G F6+9 Am G C
Where the red sun sinks in the hills of gold and the healing waters run
Trampling down the prairie rose leaving hoof tracks in the sand
Those who wish to follow me I welcome with my hands
I heard from passing renegades Geronimo was dead
Em7 Am7 Gsus4 F6+9 Am7 Bm7 Em
He’d been laying down his weapons when they filled him full of lead
Em7/D Em7/C Em
Em7/D Em7/C Em
Am D7/A Am+9 D7/A Em
Em G/D C G/B
Now there seems no reason why I should carry on
Am7 G/B C D
In this land that once was my land I can’t find a home
Em G/D C G/B
It’s lonely and it’s quiet and the horse soldiers are coming
Am G/B C Am7/D
And I think it’s time I strung my bow and ceased my senseless running
Em D C G/B
For soon I’ll find the yellow moon along with my loved ones
Am G/B C D
Where the buffalos graze in clover fields without the sound of guns
Em D C G/B
And the red sun sinks at last into the hills of gold
Am G/B C Em
And peace to this young warrior comes with a bullet hole
Em7/D Cmaj7 Em
Em7/D Cmaj7 D
© 1970 Dick James Music Limited
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