Indian Outlaw
Encyclopedia
"Indian Outlaw" is the title of a song written by Tommy Barnes, Jumpin' Gene Simmons
and John D. Loudermilk
. It was recorded by American country music
artist Tim McGraw
as the first single from his 1994 album Not a Moment Too Soon
. It was his first Top 40 country hit , and his fourth single overall. It peaked at #8 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks charts, and #15 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song was considered controversial at the time, due to its stereotypical portrayal of Native Americans
; as a result, some radio stations refused to play it.
s and fiddle
. The narrator describes himself as a rebellious American Indian character, "Half Cherokee
and Choctaw
". He describes, among other things, his pursuit of a Chippewa lover.
The song contains a sample of John D. Loudermilk
's song "Indian Reservation".
A dance remix of the single was also made. This remix appears on McGraw's 2010 album Number One Hits
.
magazine reviewed the song favorably, calling it an "incredible single" and saying that it is "positively stuffed with lyrical and musical Native American cliches, from tomtoms to wigwams to peace pipes." She goes on to say that if the song becomes a hit, "it'll set relations back 200 years." Billboard magazine in their review of the album, said that the song is "either one of the catchiest or one of the stupidest songs ever written."
. Both were directed by Sherman Halsey
, who also directed most of McGraw's subsequent videos.
Jumpin' Gene Simmons
Jumpin' Gene Simmons was an American rockabilly singer and songwriter known best for his 1964 novelty single "Haunted House."-Biography:...
and John D. Loudermilk
John D. Loudermilk
John D. Loudermilk is an American singer and songwriter.-Biography:Born in Durham, North Carolina, Loudermilk grew up in a family who were members of the Salvation Army faith and was influenced by the church singing. His cousins Ira and Charlie Loudermilk were known professionally as the Louvin...
. It was recorded by American country music
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
artist Tim McGraw
Tim McGraw
Samuel Timothy "Tim" McGraw is an American country singer and actor. Many of McGraw's albums and singles have topped the country music charts with total album sales in excess of 40 million units in the US, making him the eighth best-selling artist, and the third best-selling country singer, in the...
as the first single from his 1994 album Not a Moment Too Soon
Not a Moment Too Soon
Not a Moment Too Soon is the second album by American country music singer Tim McGraw. It was released on March 22, 1994. Written by country song writer Wayne Perry, it reached #1 on Billboard's Top 200 chart and #1 on Billboard Country chart and stayed for 26 consecutive weeks. It was Billboard's...
. It was his first Top 40 country hit , and his fourth single overall. It peaked at #8 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks charts, and #15 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song was considered controversial at the time, due to its stereotypical portrayal of Native Americans
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
; as a result, some radio stations refused to play it.
Content
The song is an up-tempo set in minor key, backed by tom-tom drumTom-tom drum
A tom-tom drum is a cylindrical drum with no snare.Although "tom-tom" is the British term for a child's toy drum, the name came originally from the Anglo-Indian and Sinhala; the tom-tom itself comes from Asian or Native American cultures...
s and fiddle
Fiddle
The term fiddle may refer to any bowed string musical instrument, most often the violin. It is also a colloquial term for the instrument used by players in all genres, including classical music...
. The narrator describes himself as a rebellious American Indian character, "Half Cherokee
Cherokee
The Cherokee are a Native American people historically settled in the Southeastern United States . Linguistically, they are part of the Iroquoian language family...
and Choctaw
Choctaw
The Choctaw are a Native American people originally from the Southeastern United States...
". He describes, among other things, his pursuit of a Chippewa lover.
The song contains a sample of John D. Loudermilk
John D. Loudermilk
John D. Loudermilk is an American singer and songwriter.-Biography:Born in Durham, North Carolina, Loudermilk grew up in a family who were members of the Salvation Army faith and was influenced by the church singing. His cousins Ira and Charlie Loudermilk were known professionally as the Louvin...
's song "Indian Reservation".
A dance remix of the single was also made. This remix appears on McGraw's 2010 album Number One Hits
Number One Hits
-Track listing:-Album:-Certifications:...
.
Critical reception
Deborah Evans Price, of BillboardBillboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
magazine reviewed the song favorably, calling it an "incredible single" and saying that it is "positively stuffed with lyrical and musical Native American cliches, from tomtoms to wigwams to peace pipes." She goes on to say that if the song becomes a hit, "it'll set relations back 200 years." Billboard magazine in their review of the album, said that the song is "either one of the catchiest or one of the stupidest songs ever written."
Music video
There were two versions of the video released. One was for the original version of the song, and the other was for an extended dance mixDance mix
Dance mix is a form of music, created by mixing Techno House and Electronica. It reached its peak of popularity in the mid to late 1990s. However, it can also imply manipulating alternative rock and adult contemporary songs that are otherwise not dance songs so that "pop songs" can be more...
. Both were directed by Sherman Halsey
Sherman Halsey
Sherman Halsey is an American music video and television director, producer, and artist manager. Sherman Halsey has produced and directed hundreds of television shows and music videos for artists such as Tim McGraw, Brooks and Dunn, Alan Jackson, BB King, Michael Bolton, Dwight Yoakam, and many...
, who also directed most of McGraw's subsequent videos.
Peak positions
| Chart (1994) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks | 8 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | 15 |
| Canadian RPM Country Tracks | 24 |
End of year charts
| End of year chart (1994) | Position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | 90 |