This song focuses on the events surrounding the Trail of Tears, and the displacement of many Native American groups by the United States. Elton John said that whenever Bernie Taupin handed him a sheet of lyrics, a little movie would form in his head as he visualized the song; when Taupin handed him these lyrics, he said they conjured up a two and a half hour long movie.

Eminem, close friend of Elton John, sampled some lines from this song for 2Pac’s classic song “Ghetto Gospel.”