The Indian Hunter

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title=The Indian Hunter
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caption=Cover of sheet music, c. 1842.
writer=
composer=Eliza Cook
lyricist=Henry Russell
published=c. 1842
written=
language=English
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original_artist=
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performed_by=

"The Indian Hunter" is a song based on a poem by Eliza Cook. Music was added by Henry Russell and published in 1842. In the poem, a lament, the hunter is questioning what the white man wants with him and his home.

Cook's poem

"The Indian Hunter, as written by Eliza Cook: [Cook, "The Poetical Works of Eliza Cook", p. 343.]

:"Oh! why does the white man follow my path,"::"Like the hound on the tiger's track?":"Does the blush on my dark cheek waken he wrath?"::"Doe he covet the bow on my back?":"He has rivers and seas, where the billows and breeze"::"Bear riches for him alone;":"And the sons of the wood never plunge in the flood"::"Which the white man calls his own."

:"Why then should he come to the streams where none"::"But the red-skin dare to swim?":"Why, why should he wrong the hunter-one,"::"Who never did harm to him?":"The Father above thought fit to give"::"To the white man corn and wine;":"There are golden fields, where they may live,"::"But the forest shades are mine."

:"The eagle hath its place of rest,"::"The wild horse where to dwell;":"An the Spirit that gave the bird its nest,"::"Made me a home as well.":"Then back, go back from the red man's track,"::"For the hunter's eyes grow dim,":"To find that the white man wrongs the one"::"Who never did harm to him."

References

Bibliography

*Cook, Eliza. "The Poetical Works of Eliza Cook". Philadelphia: John Ball (1850)
*Cook, Eliza (w.); Russell, Henry (m.). "The Indian Hunter" (Sheet music). New York: Firth, Hall & Pond (c. 1842).