From the Indian reservation to the governmental school 

Well they're goin' to educate me to the white men's Golden Rule 

And I'm learning very quickly for I've learned to be ashamed 

And I come when they call Billy though I've got an Indian name 

And there are drums beyond the mountain Indian drums that you can't hear 

There are drums beyond the mountain and they're getting mighty near 

And when they think that they'd changed me cut my hair to meet their needs 

Will they think I'm white or Indian quarter blood or just half breed 

Let me tell you Mr teacher when you say you'll make me right 

In five hundred years of fighting not one Indian turned white 

And there are drums... 

Well you thought that I knew nothing when you brought me here to school 

Just another empty Indian just America's first fool 

But now I can tell you stories that are burnt and dried and old 

But in the shadow of their telling walks the thunder proud and bold 

And there are drums... 

Long Pine and Sequoia Handsome Lake and Sitting Bull 

There's Magnus Colorado with his sleeves so red and full 

Crazy Horse the legend those who bit off Custer's soul 

They are dead yet they are living with the great Geronimo 

And there are drums... 

Well you may teach me this land's hist'ry but we taught it to you first 

We broke your hearts and bent your journeys broken treaties left us cursed 

Even now you have to cheat us even though you this us tame 

In our losing we found proudness in your winning you found shame 

And there are drums...