Lyric request for Indian Outlaw
TRES ENSIGN DEATH.
Subject: Indian Outlaw in _Indian Country Today_
Date: 8 Apr 1994 23:03:38 GMT
*note: this is being posted currently to soc.culture.native,
alt.native, and rec.music.country.western. It's an article from
_Indian Country Today_ by Shelley Davis
Song Pulled from National Airwaves for Offensive Lyrics
Tahlequah, OK - "Indian Outlaw," a song performed by country western
recording artist Tim McGraw, has been gaining popularity. But it has
also caused outrage among Cherokee chiefs and others in Indian Country.
Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Wilma Mankiller wrote a letter
voicing her disgust of the song and sent it to radio stations,
requesting they stop playing it. Even so, some Oklahoma stations are
finding it too popular to pull.
The song's lyrics were the focus of a recent deomonstration at Mr.
McGraw's concert in Tulsa. JoKay Dowell, Northeast Oklahoma American
Indian Movement coordinator, and others met with Mr. McGraw to discuss
the song.
Ms. Dowell said that the song is a mockery of Indian peole in that it
speaks of the pipe, which is sacred, and not a "vessel for smoking
pleasure;" and she said it mocks the medicine man, "who is a holisitc
healer and Faithkeeper...held in high regard."
She said she discussed these and other concerns about the song with
Mr. McGraw but did not feel the outcome was positive.
Tony Harley, of API/IMAGE Management, is one of Mr. McGraw's
managers. He said Ms. Dowell explained to Mr. McGraw the different
items in the song and their meaning.
"I don't think Tim is willing to quit playing it," said Mr. Harley.
The co-writer for "Indian Outlaw," Tommy Banres, said the song was
not meant to offend anyone.
"Here's the thing, every cowboy movie I've ever seen has the tipi,
the wigwam," said Mr. Barnes. "There's not anything in that song that
hasn't already been in the movies." [personal comment: That's pretty
sad to see somebody say something like that]
"When I hear a song about a redneck, I don't go picket," Mr. Barnes
continued. "I never saw a picket at a theater for John Wayne movies."
He again said the song was not meant to offend, and he apologized for
those it does offend. However, he said he will not apologize for the
lyrics.
The lyrics of the song have offended people across the nation,
however. In Rapid City, KICK 104 FM refused to play the song, even
though last Monday it ranked 14 nationally on the Billboard charts.
Bob Look, program director for the country said, KICK allows
listeners to call in comments on a weekly basis about debut songs. A
few weeks ago Mr. McGraw's song was voted dwon by listeners.
"We had several phone calls objecting to the song," Mr. Look said.
"I and our music director here decided we were not going to play
something here that upset a segment of the audience. Even if it is a
hit all over the place, we're not in the business to offend people. We
respect our audience."
In Ms. Mankiller's letter, she stated the lyrics of the song promote
bigotry and stereotyping of the Indian people.
"The song is extremely offensive. It is insulting to Indians, it
perpetuates fraudulent stereotypes created by ignorance... and it
promotes bigotry," Ms. Mankiller's letter stated. "American Indians
deserve the same dignity as all other groups in this country are
afforded."
She also stated that support of the song shows lack of cultural
education.
Mr. McGraw wrote a letter to Ms. Mankiller in response to her letter.
He stated that he has always been proud of his grandmother's Cherokee
heritage and he informed her that he does not dress in "Indian costume"
or use props when performing the song.
Mr. McGraw further stated it would be a "dishonor" for him to turn
his back on the "many Native Americans" who have "adopted" the song.
The Eastern Band of Cherokee's Chief Jonathon Taylor supports the
song according to Mr. Harley and Mr. Barnes. Chief Taylor said he has
never heard the song and knows nothing about it. After hearing the
lyrics he agreed with Ms. Mankiller.
"This is something that shouldn't be aired on any radio station,"
said Mr. Taylor.
"It is simple cultural and religious ridicule," said Chad Smith,
attorney with the Cherokee Nation. "It may not be out of malice but
out of abject ignorance."
Mr. Smith said it seems it has become an American heritage to
ridicule Indians. He also said the song is not honoring Mr. McGraw's
grandmother, since Mr. McGraw only became aware of his Indian heritage
recently but has been performing the song for four years.
"This has got to be the most comical, vicious song," said Vernon
Bellecourt, president of the National Coalition on Racism in Sports and
Media.
He said radio stations should do themselves a favor and not play the
song.
"We have to eliminate these stereotypes," said Mr. Bellecourt.
"We didn't mean to offend anybody. If we did, I apologize," said Mr.
Barnes. "But I'm not apologizing for the lyrics."
The song is distributed by Curb Records out of Nashville, Tenn.
_Indian Outlaw_
I'm a Indian outlaw,
half Cherokee and Choctaw
my baby's she's a Chippewa,
she's a one of a kind
all my friends call me Bear Claw
the village cheiftain is my Paw Paw
he gets his orders from my Maw Maw
she makes him walk the line
You can find me in my wigwam
I'll be beatin' on my Tom Tom
pull out the pipe and smoke you some
hey pass it around
Cause I'm a Indian outlaw,
half Cherokee and Choctaw
my baby's she's a Chippewa,
she's a one of a kind
I ain't lookin' for trouble
we can ride my pony double
make your little heart bubble,
Lord, like a glass of wine
I remember the medicine man
he caught running water in my hand
and drug me around by my headband,
said I wasn't the kind
Cause I'm a Indian outlaw,
half Cherokee and Choctaw
my baby's she's a Chippewa,
she's a one of a kind
I can kill a deer or a buffalo
with my trusted hickory bow,
from a hundred yards
don't ya know, I do it all the time
They all sit around my tepee,
late at night tryin' to catch a peek at me
in nothin' but my buffalo briefs,
I've got 'em standing in line
Cause I'm a Indian outlaw,
half Cherokee and Choctaw
my baby's she's a Chippewa,
she's a one of a kind
I'm a Indian outlaw, I'm a Indian outlaw
-Recorded by Tim McGraw on Curb Record Label
-Written by Tim McGraw and Tommy Barnes
You can send replies to Christoph...@dartmouth.edu
"When sun warms your body thru in the heart of the land
And smiles play on our children's faces
You can see the work of Koluskap's hand."
Red Hawk
Penobscot
from the poem _Penobscot Home Nation_
TRES ENSIGN DEATH.
_____________________________________________________________________________
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KKKK * ! ! purple piece of
K K * ! ! sh*t they call
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