G D G C From the land of shooting waters to the peaks of the Coeur d'AlêneD G D Thimbleberries in the forest, elk grazing on the plainG D G C The People of the Coyote made their camp along the streamsC G C D G Of the green Wallowa Valley when fences had no nameD C G And they bred a strain of horses, the treasure of the tribeD C D Who could toe-dance on a ridge or gallop up a mountainsideG D C G Who could haul the hunter's burden, turn a buffalo stampedeC G C D G The horse that wore the spotted coat was born with matchless speed [Chorus]Bm DC G Thunder Rolling in the MountainsC D D C Lead the People across the Great DivideG C G There's blood on the snow in the hills of Idaho C D G G C C Am Em D x2 But the heart of the Appaloosa never died [Verse 2]G D G C In the winter came the crowned ones near frozen in the coldD G D Bringing firearms and spyglasses and a book that saves the soulG D G C The people gave them welcome, nursed them till their strength returnedC G C D G And studied the talking paper, its mysteries to learnD C G In the shadow of the mission sprang up farms and squatter townsD C D The plain was lined with fences, the plow blade split the groundD G C G In the shallows of the Clearwater gold glittered in the panC G C D G And the word would come from Washington: remove the Indian [Chorus]Bm DC G Thunder Rolling in the MountainsC D D C Lead the People across the Great DivideG C G There's blood on the snow in the hills of IdahoC D G G C C Am Em D But the heart of the Appaloosa never died [Verse 3]G D G C The chief spoke to the People in his anger and his painD G D "I am no more Chief Joseph. Rolling Thunder is my name.G D G C They condemn us to a wasteland of barren soil and stoneC G C D G We shall fight them if we must, but we will find another home."D C G They fled into the Bitterroot, an army at their heelsD C D They fought at White Bird Canyon, they fought at Misery HillD G C G Till the colonel saw his strategy and sent the order downC G C D G To kill the Appaloosa wherever it be found [Chorus]Bm DC G Thunder Rolling in the MountainsC D D C Lead the People across the Great DivideG C G There's blood on the snow in the hills of IdahoC D G G C C Am Em D But the heart of the Appaloosa never died [Verse 4]G D G C Twelve hundred miles retreating, three times over the DivideD G D The horse their only safety, their only allyG D G C Three thousand Appaloosa perished with the tribeC G C D G The people and the horses died side by sideD C G Thunder Rolling in the Mountains said, "my heart is sick and sad.D C D Our children now are freezing. The old chiefs are dead.D G C G The hunger take our spirit. Our wounds are deep and sore.C G C D G From where the sun now stands I shall fight no more." [Chorus]Bm DC G Thunder Rolling in the MountainsC D D C Lead the People across the Great DivideG C G There's blood on the snow in the hills of IdahoC D G G C C Am Em D But the heart of the Appaloosa never died [Break Strain]G D G C They were sent to Oklahoma, malaria ran rifeD G D But more died of broken hearts far from the land that gave them lifeG D G C And the man once called Joseph at death was heard to sayC G C D G "We have given up our horses. They have gone away."D* C G But sometimes without warning from a dull domestic herdD* C D A spotted horse of spirit wondrous will emergeD* G C G Strong it is and fearless and nimble on a hillC* G* C D G Listening for thunder, the Appaloosa's living still [Chorus]Bm DC G Thunder Rolling in the MountainsC D D C Lead the People across the Great DivideG C G There's blood on the snow in the hills of IdahoC D G G C C Am Em D But the heart of the Appaloosa never died
Heart Of The Appaloosa
Fred Small
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Tom: