About The Song
“Indian Outlaw” is a song written by Tommy Barnes, Jumpin’ Gene Simmons, and John D. Loudermilk, and recorded by American country music artist Tim McGraw. It was released in January 1994 as the first single from his album Not a Moment Too Soon. It was McGraw’s breakthrough and first Top 40 country hit. It peaked at number 8 on Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks, and number 15 on the Billboard Hot 100.
This song finds Tim McGraw singing of a rebellious American Indian character. His fourth single overall, this was McGraw’s first Top 40 country hit. It peaked at #8 on the country chart and #15 on the Billboard Hot 100.
The song was co-written by Tommy Barnes, who also penned a #1 country hit the same year with Little Texas’ “My Love.” American rockabilly singer-songwriter Jumpin’ Gene Simmons was the other co-writer. He is best known for his 1964 novelty single “Haunted House”.
The tune’s success surprised McGraw. “‘Indian Outlaw’ was sort of this novelty, weird-sounding song,” McGraw recalled at a media event in 2016. “I moved to town in May, early May, of 1989; the same day Keith Whitley died was the day I moved to town. That night … I met [songwriter] Tommy Barnes… We sat up in a hotel room, and he played me ‘Indian Outlaw’ that night, the first night I moved to town, and I told him I was going to record that song.”
“It took me a while to get to it,” McGraw continued. “I played that song in clubs forever, and it was just so different. I didn’t know how people were going to take it. I didn’t know it was going to work.”
The song ends with McGraw shouting part of the main “Cherokee people” chorus from “Indian Reservation.” The John D. Loudermilk-penned tune was a #1 pop hit for Paul Revere & the Raiders in 1970.
Video
Lyrics
I’m an Indian outlaw
Half Cherokee and Choctaw
My baby, she’s a Chippewa
She’s a one of a kind
All my friends call me Bear Claw
The Village Chieftain is my paw-paw
He gets his orders from my maw-maw
She makes him walk the line
You can find me in my wigwam
I’ll be beatin’ on my tom-tom
Pull out the pipe and smoke you some
Hey and pass it around
‘Cause I’m an Indian outlaw
Half Cherokee and Choctaw
My baby, she’s a Chippewa
She’s a one of a kind
I ain’t lookin’ for trouble
We can ride my pony double
Make your little heart bubble
Lord, like a glass of wine
I remember the medicine man
He caught Running Water in my hands
Drug me around by my headband
Said I wasn’t her kind
‘Cause I’m an Indian outlaw
Half Cherokee and Choctaw
My baby, she’s a Chippewa
She’s a one of a kind
I can kill a deer or buffalo
With just my arrow and my hickory bow
From a hundred yards don’t you know
I do it all the time
They all gather ’round my teepee
Late at night tryin’ to catch a peek at me
In nothin’ but my buffalo briefs
I got them standin’ in line
‘Cause I’m an Indian outlaw
Half Cherokee and Choctaw
My baby, she’s a Chippewa
She’s a one of a kind
Cherokee people
Cherokee tribe
So proud to live
So proud to die
