Little Steven's album version
| Backing vocalists: | I am Native American |
| Van Zandt and Springsteen: | Ho Ka Hey Wah Nah, Ho Ka Hey Wah Nah Woh |
| Ho Ka Hey Wah Nah, Ho Ka Hey Wah Nah Woh | |
| Ho Ka Hey Wah Nah, Ho Ka Hey Wah Nah Woh | |
| Ho Ka Hey Wah Nah, Ho Ka Hey Wah Nah | |
| Steven Van Zandt: | Life was forever when we were young |
| Bruce Springsteen: | The land was protected for everyone |
| Van Zandt and Springsteen: | Forever as long as the rivers run |
| Steven Van Zandt: | But now the water no longer comes |
| Van Zandt and Springsteen: | And now all that remains is darkness, a poisoned earth |
| And now before it's too late we must provide our own new birth | |
| Backing vocalists: | I am Native American |
| I am Native American | |
| Bruce Springsteen: | The question of honor you must decide |
| Steven Van Zandt: | The soul of the nation has been denied |
| Van Zandt and Springsteen: | Our dreams have been stolen before our eyes |
| Bruce Springsteen: | How do you say there's no tomorrow to a child |
| Van Zandt and Springsteen: | From us there is much to learn |
| There's so much you've forgotten | |
| You can't change me, try and understand | |
| I am proud of who I am | |
| Backing vocalists: | I am Native American |
| I am Native American | |
| Steven Van Zandt: | Woah ah ah ah |
| Ah ah | |
| Steven Van Zandt: | We must try and remember what we're here for |
| Bruce Springsteen: | You will suffer the darkness alone no more |
| Van Zandt and Springsteen: | You will have the strength of all of us gathered here today |
| Bruce Springsteen: | That is something they can never take away |
| Backing vocalists: | I am Native American |
| I am Native American | |
| Van Zandt and Springsteen: | Ho Ka Hey Wah Nah, Ho Ka Hey Wah Nah Woh |
| Ho Ka Hey Wah Nah, Ho Ka Hey Wah Nah Woh | |
| Ho Ka Hey Wah Nah, Ho Ka Hey Wah Nah Woh | |
| Ho Ka Hey Wah Nah, Ho Ka Hey Wah Nah Woh | |
| Ho Ka Hey Wah Nah, Ho Ka Hey Wah Nah Woh | |
| Ho Ka Hey Wah Nah, Ho Ka Hey Wah Nah Woh | |
| Ho Ka Hey Wah Nah, Ho Ka Hey Wah Nah Woh | |
| Ho Ka Hey Wah Nah, Ho Ka Hey Wah Nah Woh | |
| Ho Ka Hey Wah Nah, Ho Ka Hey Wah Nah Woh | |
| Ho Ka Hey Wah Nah, Ho Ka Hey... | |
| [Fades out] |
NATIVE AMERICAN is a song written by Steven Van Zandt and released on his 1987 album Freedom No Compromise. The song features a guest appearance by Bruce Springsteen on co-lead vocals. The above lyrics are for Little Steven's album version of NATIVE AMERICAN as released in 1987.
The song, or at least Springsteen's parts, was recorded in early 1987 at Shakedown Studios in New York City, NY.
"Ho Ka Hey Wah Nah, Ho Ka Hey Wah Nah Woh" is a war cry of the Lakota Sioux that means "Let's Go - Now".
In addition to its releases on the Freedom No Compromise album, NATIVE AMERICAN also appears on two more official releases.
NATIVE AMERICAN was performed off-tour on 21 Aug 1987 at The Stone Pony in Asbury Park, NJ, during a guest appearance with Little Steven & The Disciples Of Soul.
NATIVE AMERICAN was performed off-tour on 08 Oct 1987 at The Ritz in New York City, NY, during a guest appearance with Little Steven & The Disciples Of Soul. See the live 08 Oct 1987 version for more details.
List of available versions of NATIVE AMERICAN on this website:
NATIVE AMERICAN [Little Steven's album version]
