Pinestraw on the ground around a fallen Cherokee rose 

It's got me wonderin' why those mighty winds of change must blow 

Once this land was free from fences and shotguns 

Back when the people killed here for food instead of fun 

When the Earth was sanctified 

Cherished in the red-man's eyes 

Before the Cherokee rose 

The Cherokee rose 

The Cherokee rose 

My boots sink down into the soft red Georgia clay 

Bought with their blood, this land here never was ours to take away 

Disheartened souls unjustly driven from their homes 

Many died along the way, now we build our houses upon their bones 

After all these years I can see the trail of tears 

Damn this Cherokee rose 

Oh the Cherokee rose 

The Cherokee rose 

Oh they call us the land of the free 

And the home of the brave 

But I don't hear much

 About the injustice that we've done along the way 

We try to black it out 

Never think about 

The price they had to pay 

We never cry for what was lost 

Shed a tear for the heavy cost 

Of what we call "freedom" 

All the gold in the world couldn't pay the debt we owe 

We'll never right those wrongs, but I believe we should let them know 

That we won't forget and sure as hell won't justify 

And we'll do our best to keep their memories alive 

Oh the least that we could do 

Is dedicate one lonesome bloom 

Won't ya take this Cherokee rose 

Oh the Cherokee rose 

The Cherokee rose 

The Cherokee rose