Inspired by both the movie and my favorite actor, Kevin Costner...

He was one of the Union brave
On a crowded field in Tennessee.
Badly wounded, no will to go on
Death was a way to be free.
He mounted up on Cisco
Riding straight toward his enemy
With outstretched arms he waited
For a bullet to set him free.
He passed in front of those Johnny Rebs
Their astonishment was clear
Lieutenant John J. Dunbar
Awaited death with no fear.
But not a single shot touched him
The General found this brave one
Near the trusty buckskin horse
Lying still beneath the sun.
Lieutenant Dunbar lived that day
And was elevated to a hero true
He didn't tell that General
What he'd really meant to do.
Decorated a hero, they let him go
Away from a war of pure hate
Sending him straight to the frontier
Where he could not anticipate
All the adventure that laid in store
All the beauty and wonder of the land,
And a destiny as an Indian brother
Adopted by the Lakota band.
First he met wise Kicking Bird
And then brave Wind In His Hair
He soon came to love the white woman
Who'd long since lived with them there.
The wolf that dwelled 'round Fort Sedgwick
Caused Dunbar to receive his name
Sungmanitutonka Ob waci
Is what Dunbar became.
Dances With Wolves just because of one day
When the Lakota saw him with Two Socks
Dunbar learned of his name one evening
With Kicking Bird at one of their talks.
He helped them hunt the buffalo
He fought next to them against Pawnee
Suddenly Lieutenant John Dunbar
Was everything he'd longed to be.
The woman beauty named Stands With A Fist
Became his Lakota bride
He shrugged his army duties
To be on his new family's side.
But came the fateful day
When it was time for them to leave
Dances With Wolves lost Cisco
The heartless way caused him to grieve.
For the soldiers at Fort Sedgwick
With not one to understand
Had no sympathy for the Lieutenant
Whose loyalty was with the Indian band.
The Lakota waited for him to return
And knew that Dunbar needed them so
He was treated brutally by the soldiers
Who could not understand or know.
They couldn't see he'd become Lakota
Nor did they even care
At the hands of his fellow soldiers in arms
Dances With Wolves didn't stand a prayer.
Condemned by men like himself
They were to send him back from whence he came
Guarded on a wagon by ruthless men
Lieutenant John Dunbar was no longer the same.
He was more Lakota now
Than he was white bred
Deep down inside Dances With Wolves knew
The soldiers would soon be dead.
The heartless men killed Two Socks
Not caring that he was tame
Ignorant to the fact that the wolf
Was the reason for Dunbar's new name.
They didn't care if he died right there
Their rifles so hard and cold,
Little did they suspect that around the bend
Were Dunbar's Indian brothers, Lakota bold.
The attack on the wagon was bloody and quick
Not a soldier lived to tell the tale.
Dances With Wolves was free once more
Witnessing men go to hell.
He returned with his brothers to winter camp
Stands With A Fist was so glad,
She'd been afraid he was lost to her forever
But now faced what would be sad.
Dances With Wolves was a wanted man
The army would want him to die
Knowing this and what it would mean for their tribe,
Dances With Wolves was forced to say good-bye.
With his bride and their memories
They rode away in a snowy wind.
A brave stood high on a rocky slope
Reminding Dances With Wolves he'd always be his friend.
Not only a friend but also family
And Dances With Wolves would grieve,
But for his new family, for their sake
He had no choice but to leave.
Where would he go? What would he do?
Find someone who'd listen and understand.
He was no longer Lieutenant Dunbar---
He was Dances With Wolves, warrior of a Lakota band.