My father married a pure cherokee

My mother's people were ashamed of me

The indians said I was white by law

The white man always called me "Indian squaw"

[Chorus]

Half-breed, that's all I ever heard

Half-breed, how I learned to hate the word

Half-breed, she's no good they warned

Both sides were against me since the day I was born

We never settled, went from town to town

When you're not welcome you don't hang around

The other children always laughed at me "give her a feather, she's a cherokee"

[Repeat chorus]

We weren't accepted and I felt ashamed

Nineteen I left them, tell me who's to blame

My life since then has been from man to man

But I can't run away from what I am

[Repeat chorus]