Indian Red is traditionally sung at the beginning and at the end of gatherings of Mardi Gras Indians in

New Orleans New Orleans (commonly known as NOLA or The Big Easy among other nicknames) is a Consolidated city-county, consolidated city-parish located along the Mississippi River in the U.S. state of Louisiana. With a population of 383,997 at the 2020 ...

. It is a traditional chant that may have been first recorded in 1947 by

Danny Barker Daniel Moses Barker (January 13, 1909 – March 13, 1994) was an American jazz musician, vocalist, and author from New Orleans. He was a rhythm guitarist for Cab Calloway, Lucky Millinder and Benny Carter during the 1930s. One of Barker's earli ...

for King Zulu label (Barker on guitar & vocals, Don Kirkpatrick on piano, Heywood Henry on baritone saxophone, and Freddie Moore). It has since been recorded many times by, among others, Dr. John and Wild Tchoupitoulas.

Lyrics

:Madi cu defio, en dans dey, end dans day :Madi cu defio, en dans dey, end dans day :We are the Indians, Indians, Indians of the nation :The wild, wild creation :We won't bow down :Down on the ground :Oh how I love to hear him call Indian Red :I've got a Big Chief, Big Chief, Big Chief of the Nation :The wild, wild creation :He won't bow down :Down on the ground :Oh how I love to hear him call Indian RedA corruption of a phrase from an old Creole song, "M'allé couri dans deser" (Wilson, ''Traditional Louisiana French Folk Music'', 59; Mrs. Augustine Moore, interview by author, 1980. As cited in "The Use of Louisiana Creole in Southern Literature" by Sybil Rein, ''Creole: The History and Legacy of Louisiana's Free People of Color'' ed. Sybil Rein. Louisiana State University Press: 2000. pg 124). "M'allé couri dans deser" is said to mean "I am going into the wilderness" ("Creole Slave Songs." ''The Century Magazine''. Vol XXXI, No 6. April 1886. pg 820).

Notes

{{authority control History of racism in Louisiana Native American cultural appropriation Songs about Native Americans Mardi Gras in New Orleans 1947 songs Songs about New Orleans