The Band
Lyric guide

The Code Of Handsome Lake

Read The Code Of Handsome Lake lyrics by The Band on LyroVerse, with linked artist context and related song paths.

The Band visibility2 visits Video on page
person Curated by Ethan Walker LyroVerse team
Reference snapshot

The page facts to cite before the commentary

Use this page for the lyric text, linked artist context, and any LyroVerse editor's note attached to the song. Listener comments remain user-generated and should not be treated as the primary source.

Page type: lyric reference Artist: The Band Canonical path: /band-the/the-code-of-handsome-lake Related lyric paths: 6 Video embedded: yes
Lyrics

The Code Of Handsome Lake

The lyric stays readable and compact here; the note and related paths sit nearby so you do not lose the song while looking for context.

these are the people of the longhouse

These are the people that you tried to break

These are the people of the pines

Who follow the code of handsome lake

He drank your poison, swallowed your fire

And lay with fever four long years

He received a vision so inspired

Three messengers with painted faces appeared

On the allegheny river at a place called burnt house

The code was shared for the very first time

By a seneca chief, they call handsome lake

With a wounded heart and a sober mind

*repeat

**we are the people of the longhouse

We are the people that you couldn't break

We are the people of the sacred pipe

Who follow the code of handsome lake

When the dark moon had come to live in your soul

Get in touch with your creator, you are not alone

These are the words

That he had spoken two hundred years ago

And today they still ring true

Like they're carved in stone

When native life was hurled into the pit

By way of the canon, rum, and greed

Oh a great fire was burned, to let the smoke rise

And show the six nations the code was still alive

Way down deep in the bush

We oh hi ne oh he oh we oh we we

(section repeats 4 times)

* repeat

**repeat

Quick answers

What this page can answer fast

Who performs "The Code Of Handsome Lake"?

The Band performs "The Code Of Handsome Lake", and this lyric page sits inside the The Band catalog on LyroVerse.

Are there related songs to explore after "The Code Of Handsome Lake"?

Yes. The related section below points to Four Strong Winds and Beautiful Thing with a short reason for opening each page next.

Where can I find more songs by The Band?

Use the artist link near the top of the page or the related paths section below to keep moving through The Band's lyric pages.

Song Room

Interpretations, questions, and corrections for this song

Interpretations, questions, memories, and correction notes live together here. The room stays noindex while the best insights are reviewed.

Open Song Room
0 followers Selected insights only surface after moderation
Listener comments

What people are saying

0 comments
Add a short interpretation or memory

A strong comment here is specific: the phrase you keep hearing, the mood you come back for, or the reason this song stays in rotation.

Sign in to post the first listener note. Reporting stays open to everyone.

No listener comments on The Code Of Handsome Lake yet.