Faith in the future

I have this memory from my youth of going to the movies and seeing good films about peace, justice and freedom. My mother was great about taking us to the movies. Often, as in the film from which this song comes (Billy Jack), we saw violence and injustice. Yet I left the film theater with the belief that everyone would see the movie, feel upset about the injustice, and then peace, justice and freedom would prevail. I know, I know, that is a rather naive approach. Oh, well, that’s still me. I’ve just gotten a tiny bit more realistic in my grown-up days. I think. I still hope and believe that peace and justice will prevail. Eventually.

I loved the movie and I loved this song — so much that I wrote an essay about it for creative writing class in seventh grade. Our assignment was to interpret a song or poem. It was a labor of love. Back in those days, you couldn’t just google the lyrics. I had to sit and listen to the song over and over again, until I had the words all written down. Today I want to share it with you. No, not the essay! I don’t have that anymore. Just the song.

 

One Tin Soldier

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 a 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 judgment 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 judgment day
On the bloody morning after
One tin soldier rides away

School’s Out!

Here things are a bit later. School got out here on July 4th. Happened to stumble upon this song, which I have always loved. The movie I saw on TV as a kid, and I’m still touched by it when I think back. It is an incredible film with Sidney Poitier.

To Sir, with Love

Those schoolgirl days of telling tales and biting nails are gone
But in my heart, I know they will still live on and on
but how do you thank someone
who has taken you from crayons to perfume?
It isn’t easy, but I’ll try.

If you wanted the sky
I would write across the sky in letters
That would soar a thousand feet high
To Sir, with love.

The time has come
For closing books, and long last looks must end
And as I leave
I know that I am leaving my best friend
A friend who taught me right from wrong
And weak from strong
That’s a lot to learn
What, what can I give you in return?

If you wanted the moon
I would try to make a start
But I would rather you let me give my heart
To Sir, with love