"One Tin Soldier" is a 1960s anti-war song written and originally recorded by the Canadian pop group The Original Caste, and was a success in Canada. When it was selected as the theme song for the 1971 film "Billy Jack," Jinx Dawson, lead singer of the American rock band Coven (who had one of the best sets of pipes around), was asked to sing it for the film. She agreed, and Coven's version, titled "One Tin Soldier (The Legend of Billy Jack)" was used in the film and released as a single in the fall of '71. It was subsequently included on Coven's self-titled second album in 1973, and re-released as a single that year and a third time in 1974. It was named the 'Number One All Time Requested Song' in 1971 and 1973 by the American Radio Broadcasters Association. Lyrics: 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 the 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 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... (Written by Dennis Lambert and Brian Potter)

• published: 05 Sep 2014
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