Columbus sailed the ocean blue He was looking for gold and a trading route The Miami skyline was nothing but trees On Manhattan island the deer ran free When the Cherokee roamed this land, no man owned this land Back when the rain didn't burn the trees Before the settlers' greed and fear drove them down the Trail of Tears Back when the Cherokee roamed I would love to have seen one hundred whooping cranes Spreading their wings and calling their name And the Raton Pass on the Santa Fe Trail Before the robber barons laid those gleaming rails When the Cheyenne roamed this land, no man owned this land Back when the rain didn't burn the trees Before Custer's foolish stand, before cars and aluminum cans Back when the Cheyenne roamed I call on my phone, drive my car Play my radio, my VCR They haven't come cheap, we've paid a high cost So much beauty, has been forever lost When the Sioux roamed this land, no man owned this land Back when the rain didn't burn the trees Before their dreams of staying free died at Wounded Knee Back when the Sioux roamed When the Cherokee roamed this land No man owned this land