Lyric discussion by daniel1032 

Cover art for Cherokee Bend lyrics by Gordon Lightfoot

The young Indian rode in the rodeos to make a living. The story is partly copied from an excerpt of the book "When the legends die" by Hal Borland that Gordon read on Reader's Digest. The book was adapted on the movie "When the legends die" in 1972, with Richard Widmark and Frederic Forrest. I personally find it fabulous and emotional.