I have been searching for years...I just had my 82nd birthday....for someone who knew something about this little song. My Mother sang it to my sister and me - and I to my kiddos and grandchildren, but could never find out where it came from. She told me she used to sit on her grandfather's lap and he sang this song to her..that would have been about 1910 or 1911. Because he also told her that he lived with an Indian tribe in South Texas in the 1850's and 60's, she thought it was something that came from his early life. Sure wish I could hear the melody that the words are sung to. My Mother had a beautiful voice and she sang this as he taught her. Now...I hope you will respond .....email to tj.mayes@yahoo.com

Here are the words as I learned them...they differ a bit and I just found a site where LulaBelle & Scotty did it in 1946. It was "jazzed up" a little with all the tom toms and yells in the background...but very close.

                         INDIAN NAPONEE

WAY OUT ON AN INDIAN RESERVATION
FAR AWAY FROM CIVILIZATION
WHERE THE PALEFACE SELDOM TROD.

WHITE MAN WENT TO FISH ONE SUMMER
MET AN INDIAN MAID OF HONOR'S DAUGHTER
OF THE BIG CHIEF "SPARE THE ROD".

WHITE MAN THREW SOME LOVING GLANCES
TOOK THIS MAIDEN TO WARRIOR DANCES
SMOKED HIS PIPE OF PEACE
TOOK CHANCES LIVING WITH HER
IN A TEPEE MADE OF FUR.

HE RODE WITH HER ON AN INDIAN PONY
GAVE HER DIAMOND RINGS OF PHONY
AND HE SANG THESE LOVING WORDS TO HER.

"YOU'RE MY PRETTY LITTLE NAPONEE
WON'T YOU TAKE A CHANCE AND MARRY ME
YOUR FATHER'S A CHIEF
AND IT'S MY BELIEF
FOR A VERY MERRY WEDDING

HE'LL AGREE THOUGH YOU'RE A DARK LITTLE INDIAN MAID
AND I'LL SUNBURN TO A DARKER SHADE
WEAR FEATHERS ON MY HEAD
PAINT MY FACE AN INDIAN RED
IF YOU'LL BE MY NAPONEE"

SORRY TO SAY, BUT HE'S DONE GONE AND CAUGHT HER
SOON HE WAS MARRIED TO THE BIG CHIEF'S DAUGHTER
HAPPIEST COUPLE MOST EVER DID YOU SEE.

THEN PAPOOSES CAME IN NUMBERS
RED SKIN YELLS DISTURBED HIS SLUMBERS
AND THE FEATHERS DROOPED UPON HIS HEAD.

INDIAN WARRIERS KILLED AND RAIDED
NAPONEE GREW OLD AND FADED
JUST ABOUT LIKE ANY OTHER SQUAW.

TOO LATE NOW, BUT STILL HE'S A WISHING
THAT HE'D NEVER GONE A FISHING
MET THIS INDIAN MAID
AND SANG THESE LOVING WORDS TO HER.

(REPEAT CHORUS....YOU'RE MY PRETTY LITTLE NAPONEE, ETC.

I hope all of this makes sense....as I told you, I'm an old woman..ha..and when old, old memories are revived, it's a good feeling when you can review them. I was never aware that this "little ditty" was actually recorded and sung for the public for so many years. I would be interested to hear any comments you have.

THANKS A BUNCH,
NANA MAYES
and sometimes