GentatsuNoZanshi cc61 Posted August 26, 2004 Report Posted August 26, 2004 A simple question: Who first performed "One Tin Soldier"? This is one of the few music questions I couldn't get answered by members of my family. Anyway, if someone could help me out, it would be aprreciated.
Snoopy Posted August 26, 2004 Report Posted August 26, 2004 This may be it! One Tin Soldier By-The Original Caste 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 blowin', come the judgement day. On the bloody mornin' 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.
Mike Posted August 26, 2004 Report Posted August 26, 2004 Coven first recorded One Tin Soldier (The Legend of Billy Jack) - 1971 -- The first release came out in 1971, along with the film. Then, ?One Tin Soldier (The Legend of Billy Jack)?made the Top 30. A newly recorded version in mid-1973 also charted, as it a late-'73 reissue of the '71 original. Coven had no other chart hits, whether singles or albums.
windy1 Posted August 26, 2004 Report Posted August 26, 2004 You are correct sir! That would be Coven with the original release. I had it, but alas, along with rest of my pre-flood collection, it floated down the Mississippi River.
_jr_ Posted August 26, 2004 Report Posted August 26, 2004 Billy Jack was a bad dude. "I'm going to put this foot...on that side of your face....and you know what?....There's not a damn thing you can do about it.
windy1 Posted August 27, 2004 Report Posted August 27, 2004 For a completely low budget film, that was one bad ass movie! It affected anyone under the age of 25 pretty deeply. The underlying message as well as the lessons taught to the rednecks by BillyJack. There is a remake coming out starring The Rock. Think it will have the same effect on people? I think not.
Aunt_Acid Posted August 27, 2004 Report Posted August 27, 2004 I love that song. My mom always used to sing that to my aunt when she was little, and me when I was little. It's a good'n. There is some sort of moral in there too, I think, but heck, I always forget those things.
GentatsuNoZanshi cc61 Posted August 27, 2004 Author Report Posted August 27, 2004 Thanks a lot for all the help, everyone. This had been plaguing me for some time.
miamisammy29 Posted August 27, 2004 Report Posted August 27, 2004 "Billy Jack" is a great movie. I still watch it every chance I get. And that Tom Laughlin - what an actor. He had the potential to be the next Richard Roundtree. There was a prequel to that movie, but I can't remember what the title was. Anybody? Billy Jack had to protect his young lady friends from a gang of rogue bikers. It was silly, and nowhere near as good as "Billy Jack", but it was cool to watch.
GentatsuNoZanshi cc61 Posted August 27, 2004 Author Report Posted August 27, 2004 "The Born Losers" so sayeth IMDB.
skook Posted August 28, 2004 Report Posted August 28, 2004 It was actually ... that side of your knee.
Mykul Posted September 1, 2004 Report Posted September 1, 2004 don't forget "billy jack goes to washington" (I didn't make that up.
mrclick Posted September 21, 2004 Report Posted September 21, 2004 I have two items to add here. One, it would appear that there are, or were two groups called Coven. I have the lp by Coven called Witchcraft put out by Mercury stereo SR 61239. It is stated inside as being the first Black Mass to be recorded. The album is from 1969. Obviously, One Tin Soldier is not the starring single on this album. So, my best guess is that there were two groups. My second point is that a young lady name of Skeeter Davis (yes, the one that sang "The End of the World") came out with an album called Bring it on Home in 1972 which begins with "One Tin Soldier" It came out on RCA LSP-4642. So, I wonder if there were any other singers who filled their albums up with this song around this time.
edna Posted September 21, 2004 Report Posted September 21, 2004 There is a version by Me First and the Gimme Gimmes.
kenbob Posted September 25, 2004 Report Posted September 25, 2004 acording to billboard the original caste charted 2/07/70 coven charted 10/30/71 so the the prize goes to the little band from canada
windy1 Posted September 26, 2004 Report Posted September 26, 2004 however, the most well known version would still be by Coven.
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