Indian Sunset
Elton John
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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 war lance and my woman For he told us that the yellow moon Would very soon be leaving This I can't believe I said I can't believe our Warlord's dead Oh, he would not leave the chosen ones To the buzzards and the soldiers guns Oh, great father of the Iroquois Ever since I was young I've read the writing of the smoke And breast-fed on the sound of drums I've learned to hurl the tomahawk And ride a painted pony wild To run the gauntlet of the Sioux To make a chieftain's daughter mine And now you ask that I should watch The red man's race be slowly crushed What kind of words are these to hear From Yellow Dog, whom a white man fears? Oh, I take only what is mine, Lord My pony, my squaw, and my child I can't stay to see you die Along with my tribe's pride I go to search for the yellow moon And the fathers of our sons 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 He'd been laying down his weapons When they filled him full of lead Now there seems no reason why I should carry on In this land that once was my land I can't find a home It's lonely and it's quiet And the horse soldiers are coming And I think it's time I strung my bow And ceased my senseless running For soon I'll find the yellow moon Along with my loved ones Where the buffaloes graze in clover fields Without the sound of guns And the red sun sinks at last Into the hills of gold And peace to this young warrior Comes with a bullet hole
The easy, fast & fun way to learn how to sing: 30DaySinger.com
Written by: Bernie Taupin, Elton John
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
20 facts about this song
Artist"Indian Sunset" is a song by the British singer-songwriter Sir Elton John.
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AlbumThis track comes from his fourth studio album "Madman Across the Water," which was released in 1971.
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LyricsThe lyrics of "Indian Sunset" were penned by Bernie Taupin, Elton John's long-time songwriting partner.
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Lyrical ThemeThe song tells the story of an American Indian tribe's plight and downfall, emphasizing the violence inflicted on them by the white settlers.
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Extended Storytelling SongOne of the distinctive features of "Indian Sunset" is that it falls among Elton John's unusually long storytelling songs, with a runtime of about 6 minutes and 47 seconds.
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Musical CompositionUnlike many of Elton John's other popular songs, "Indian Sunset" has a very minimal instrumental arrangement. The song is primarily carried by John's piano and vocals, with only limited use of percussion and bass guitar.
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Theatrical PerformancesThis song is frequently used in Elton John’s concerts in a medley, while he tells a story. It has even been performed with a dramatic monologue introduction.
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On Live Albums"Indian Sunset" was included in Elton John’s 1987 live album “Live in Australia with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra”.
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Ghetto GospelThe song was sampled by rapper Tupac Shakur in his posthumously released song "Ghetto Gospel," which reached number one in the UK Singles Chart in 2005.
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Critical ReceptionDespite not being a commercial hit, "Indian Sunset" has been appreciated for its cinematic narrative, vocal performances and unique musical arrangement. It is often considered among Elton John's most underrated songs.
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Artist InformationThe song "Indian Sunset" is by British musician Elton John. He is one of the world’s best-selling music artists, with over 300 million records sold.
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Album Details"Indian Sunset" is from the album, "Madman Across the Water", which was released in November 1971. This was Elton John's fourth studio album.
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Song CompositionThe lyrics of "Indian Sunset" are crafted by Bernie Taupin, Elton John’s long-time songwriting partner.
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Song Story"Indian Sunset" is about a Native American who has lost his land to invading forces. The song is beautiful and narrative, telling a powerful story.
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Unique Musical Elements"Indian Sunset" is characterized by its mix of piano and orchestral arrangements. It has a dynamic and dramatic melody that enhances the song's narrative.
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Length and Structure"Indian Sunset" is 6 minutes and 45 seconds long, which is longer than many popular songs. It does not follow a typical verse-chorus-verse structure but tells a story in a more linear narrative.
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Critic ReviewsThe song was met with generally positive reviews with critics praising its theatrics and the depth of its narrative. It is regarded as one of Elton John's most underrated songs.
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Song PerformanceDuring live performances, Elton John often played "Indian Sunset" solo, entirely on piano, without the assistance of his band.
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Cover VersionsRapper Tupac Shakur sampled lyrics from "Indian Sunset" in his song "Ghetto Gospel," which was released posthumously in 2004. This is one way how the song has been permanently etched in pop culture.
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Social Implications"Indian Sunset" is one of the songs that highlight the plight of the Native Americans. It serves as a harsh reminder of the consequences of colonization.
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Citation
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