One Tin Soldier

Introduction by Cacike Pedro Torres, 9 June 2002

Introduction

Dear Relatives and friends,

I found this old song on the Net and felt it find of expresses what happened to my Taino People at the hands of the Spaniards, when they sent Juan Ponce de Lion to Conquer our tribal homelands back in the 15th century.

They first conquered valley people in 1400s and became a Spanish colony in the valley. Then they sent Don Juan Ponce to conquer us the mountain people in the year 1511.

This old song reminds me of our mountain kingdom and the 400 pounds of gold that was looted by Don Juan Ponce de Lion from the kingdom of Cacique Orocobix known then as Jatibonicu. This happened a long ago. Yet as a direct descendant of Cacique Orocobix I sometimes feel as though, I am like the tin solder that still fights on to regain the conquered ancestral kingdom lost a long time ago. Sorry about the sentimental word of a foolish old man as they came looking for gold and when they turned over our tribal Cemi and what they must of read were the words Peace on earth. Gold to our ancestors was but a pretty golden yellow colored stone that had no real value to them in those days. The drab stone cemis had a much greater value then gold..... Gentleness and Peace was the traditional Taino way of life for our people before the coming of Cristobal Colon (Columbus) in 1492.

Respectfully

Cacique Ciba Guanikeyu, Jatibonicu Taino

One Tin Soldier

Listen children, to a story, that was written long ago.

About 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.

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 rewards.

Now they stand, beside the treasure, on the mountain, dark and red. Turned the stone, and looked beneath it, Peace on earth was all it said.

(Chorus)

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 wont be any trumpets blowing, come the judgment day. On the bloody morning after, One Tin Soldier rides away.