John Cherokee was an indian man
    Alabama John Cherokee
He run away every time he can
    Alabama John Cherokee, way, hey, yah
    Alabama John Cherokee, way, hey, yah
    Alabama John Cherokee

They put him aboard a Yankee ship
Again he gave the boss the slip

They catch him again and chain him tight
And starve him many a day and night

Nothing to drink and nothin to eat
He just fall dead at the boss's feet

So they bury him by the old gate post
The very same day you can see his ghost