Great White Buffalo Ted Nugent

Ted Nugent makes a cogent argument in this song about the need to respect animals to ensure their survival. He explains how Native Americans used every part of the animals they killed, and buffalo thrived. When the white man came, he killed buffalo for profit, which dwindled their population. In this song, the great white buffalo is the hero, appearing to lead his herd.

The lyric reflects Nugent's reverence for nature and Native American culture. "I knew about the Trail Of Tears, I knew about Wounded Knee, I knew about the atrocities of Uncle Sam against the native peoples," he said in an interview. "So the accumulation of information in my life came out in those lyrics, which are more appropriate now than ever."

"Great White Buffalo" is a staple of Nugent's live set and one of the songs that helped him pack stadiums in the late '70s when he was one of the top-grossing tour acts, performing over 200 shows a year. A rendition from a 1976 show in Dallas is featured on his album Double Live Gonzo!, which went on to sell over 3 million copies.

The original recording appeared on Tooth Fang & Claw, the seventh and final album from Nugent's group The Amboy Dukes (credited to "Ted Nugent and The Amboy Dukes"). Nugent went solo after the album's release and issued a steady stream of albums that sold very well throughout the '70s. As he built up his repertoire with hits like "Stranglehold" and "Cat Scratch Fever," "Great White Buffalo" - ignored for the most part when it was first released - found new life and became a rock radio favorite.
Live, "Great White Buffalo" sees Nugent soloing extensively and freely. In 1982, he told biographer Robert Holland that this was one of his favorite (of his own) songs.

Nugent says he was often contacted by Native American tribes after this song came out. "They've sweat-lodged me into the Brave Heart Society - I may be the only white guy," he told Songfacts. "They have embraced me and given me eagle-feather war bonnets, thanking me for putting their spiritual legend into a song. To this day, when we play that song - and we do every night - the earth moves."

Great White Buffalo
Written by: Theodore Nugent
Album: Don't Mess With Texas
Released: 1977

Well, listen everybody
To what I got to say.
There's hope for tomorrow,
Ooh, we're workin' on today.
Well, it happened long ago,
In the new magic land

The Indian and the buffalo
They existed hand in hand
The Indian needed food,
He needed skins for a roof.
But he only took what they needed, baby
Millions of buffalo were the proof

Yeah, it's all right

But then came the white man,
With his thick and empty head.
He couldnt see past the billfold,
He wanted all the buffalo dead.
It was sad... It was sad.

Oh yeah
Yes, indeed
Oh, yes

It happened a long time ago, baby.
In the new magic land.
See, the Indian and the buffalo
They existed hand in hand
The Indians, they needed some food,
And some skins for a roof
They only took what they needed, baby.
Millions of buffalo were the proof, yeah.

But then came the white dogs,
With their thick and empty heads
They couldnt see past the billfold
They wanted all the buffalo dead

Everything was so sad

When I looked above the canyon wall
Some strong eyes did I see
I think it's somebody comin' around
To save my ass, baby
I think- I think he's comin' around
To save you and me.

Boys
I said above the canyon wall.
Strong eyes did glow
It was the leader of the land, baby

Oh my God,
The great white buffalo!
Look out! Look out!

Well, he got the battered herd
He led 'em 'cross the land
With the great white buffalo,
They gonna make a final stand

The great white buffalo
Comin' around to make a final stand.

Well, look out here he comes.
The great white buffalo, baby.
The great white buffalo
Look out, here he comes
He's doin' all right
Makin' everything all right

Yeah, yeah, yeah