One Tin Soldier

The Steadfast Tin Soldier by Meljnikov Roman, 12 years old

( See image information below)

Listen, children, to a story
That was written long ago,
'Bout a kingdom on a mountain
And the valley-folk below.

On the mountain was a treasure
Buried deep beneath the stone,
And the valley-people swore
They'd have it for their very own.

Go ahead and hate your neighbor,
Go ahead and cheat a friend.
Do it in the name of Heaven,
You can justify it in the end.
There won't be any trumpets blowing
Come the judgement day,
On the bloody morning after....
One tin soldier rides away.

So the people of the valley
Sent a message up the hill,
Asking for the buried treasure,
Tons of gold for which they'd kill.

Came an answer from the kingdom,
"With our brothers we will share
All the secrets of our mountain,
All the riches buried there."

Go ahead and hate your neighbor,
Go ahead and cheat a friend.
Do it in the name of Heaven,
You can justify it in the end.
There won't be any trumpets blowing
Come the judgement day,
On the bloody morning after....
One tin soldier rides away.

Now the valley cried with anger,
"Mount your horses! Draw your sword!"
And they killed the mountain-people,
So they won their just reward.

Now they stood beside the treasure,
On the mountain, dark and red.
Turned the stone and looked beneath it...
"Peace on Earth" was all it said.

Go ahead and hate your neighbor,
Go ahead and cheat a friend.
Do it in the name of Heaven,
You can justify it in the end.
There won't be any trumpets blowing
Come the judgement day,
On the bloody morning after....
One tin soldier rides away.

Go ahead and hate your neighbor,
Go ahead and cheat a friend.
Do it in the name of Heaven,
You can justify it in the end.
There won't be any trumpets blowing
Come the judgement day,
On the bloody morning after....
One tin soldier rides away.

- What a beautiful song with the allegorical message of peace. The song was written by Dennis Lambert and Brian Potter as an anti war song in the 60's. It was sung by the band Coven for 1971 movie Billy Jack.

- Listen to the Coven version on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xTKx2f44tDo

- Here is a lovely 70's cartoon version which I love: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mASbP3Eq1VE&feature=related

Image Information: Artist: Meljnikov Roman, 12 years old, the pupil of the children's art school "Aistionok". Title - Fairytale: The steadfast Tin Soldier, http://www.andersen.sdu.dk/rundtom/galleri/2007/billed_e.html?bid=220