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 on 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 swords
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 on the judgement day.
On the bloody morning after, one tin soldier rides away.
1969 – Dennis Lambert and Brian Potter – From the motion picture “Billy Jack” – Performed by The Original Caste – Released as an A-side single. B-side was “Live for Tomorrow”