Song picture
Samuel Checote
Comment Share
Free download
Traditional type folk song.
singer songwriter guitarist lover berg fighter champlin
Artist picture
Political rock with 70s influences and an angry folk approach.
I've been playing guitar forever, and sometimes seem helplessly lost in the 70's. I am old enough to not understand the music my kid listens too, which is pretty bad because as a kid I couldn't understand why my parents didn't like my music. After several high school band disasters with names like Umm and The Polish Disco and Blues Band I graduated to playing in several college near disasters, including The Weebles (we fell down) and The Necroids (existential punk rock), and The Mods. Most of the gigs I do now are solo in nature, and if I need a band I have a small cadre of musicians I can draw from. My writing tends to lean toward the political, but it is always personal. The best piece of advice I ever got was to write about what you know. I use folk influences and elements of seventies rock. I tend to be blues based when playing electric guitar and more folk based on the acoustic guitar. I am forced to be a multi-instrumentalist when recording, and find I enjoy branching out. I also play Irish Bouzouki, dulcimer, bass, and drums.
Song Info
Charts
Peak #475
Peak in subgenre #45
Author
Stephen Berg
Rights
2005 by Stephen Berg
Uploaded
April 19, 2009
Track Files
MP3
MP3 6.0 MB 128 kbps 6:32
Story behind the song
A song about Samuel Checote, the Indian Methodist minister of the Creek Indians in Oklahoma. My friend Art Bjorngjeld plays push button accordian on this.
Lyrics
Born in Alabama in 1819 Full blooded Creek lineage was he Parents settled west of Okmulgee Forced from the Old Indian Territory Went to the Asbury School and Harrell's Academy From Samuel the words of faith would flow As he told the story we all know Jesus’ love and sacrifice Related to his people’s way of life He never forgot who he was Minister of God He was filled with Love Early in life came to Methodist ways Entered the ministry and preached many days Creek Council was hostile to missionaries Closed all the churches, forced Checote to flee Persecuted for preaching Christianity To Chief McIntosh Checote spoke Caught that leader’s ear and had the laws revoked Resumed ministering in 1852 Joined the Indian Mission Conference with faith renewed Spreading to his people the Good News Confederate soldier in the North and South fray Rose to the rank of Colonel, then the war had its day Caused some trouble when the fighting was done Northern Creeks distrusted the Confederate ones Through Checote the healing of the tribes had begun Became the leader of the Creek nation Called “The Great Chief” he became their salvation Built the Old Rock Church in Muskogee Elder, preacher, circuit rider, he was all of these Died in 1884, buried near Okmulgee
Comments
Please sign up or log in to post a comment.