American Ghost Dance
Red Hot Chili Peppers · Freaky Styley [1985]
Where the buffalo roam
And the death of a race is a game
Where seldom is heard
A peacable word
From the white trash
Who killed as they came
Though these words dig deep
They offer no relief
God save the queen
I am an indian chief
There is a secret I keep
It's called the talking leaf
And you better believe
That he speaks his beliefs
Like a rock that bleeds
A sea of grief
My talking leaf speaks of
A wounded knee creek
American ghost dance...
A new man who is with old ways
He walks the streets of life
But he's in chains
I'm alive he cried
I can feel the flame
Burning red inside
I am an indian brave
There is a memory
That lives in my blood
Of the brand you laid
On all you touched
But the burning flame
Turns to burning pain
Genuine genocide
And that's truly insane
So like a wild hurricane
I will dance on the grave
Of my race that died
When it should have been saved
American ghost dance...
American Ghost Dance
American Ghost Dance stands as a defining track from the Red Hot Chili Peppers' 1985 album, Freaky Styley. Released during a pivotal era of experimentation, the song showcases the band's early fusion of funk rhythms with punk energy. The recording captures the group's developing identity, blending Anthony Kiedis's introspective vocal delivery with the tight, groove-oriented instrumentation that would later become their signature. As part of a discography that would eventually span decades, this work highlights the band's transition from local Los Angeles favorites to a force in alternative rock. The track remains a notable example of their mid-eighties output, reflecting the raw, eclectic spirit that characterized their formative years before achieving global superstardom.