Marvin Percy Rainwater had been a classically trained pianist, but after an accident had removed part of a thumb, he learned to strum a guitar enough to accompany his singing and compose songs on it. His career was established by "Gonna Find Me a Bluebird". In 1959 he recorded "The Pale Faced Indian".

Egland's Don Farnon (Maughn) had a top twenty hit with it as "Indian Reservation Lament Of the Cherokee Indian)" in 1968. This is a track on the album "Lament Of the Cherokee).

The composer John D. Loudermilk's version is next.

The big hit is by Paul Revere and the Raiders and their dramatic 1971 recording "Indian Reservation (the lament of the Cherokee reservation Indian)". The incredible power of music.