Anatomy of a Song: "One Tin Soldier" Quiz

Answer: Original Caste

"One Tin Soldier" was written by Dennis Lambert and Brian Potter. Original Caste was the first act to record the song.

Coven did release it later, and their version was better known in the US. Although searches for "One Tin Soldier" and either Joan Baez or Joni Mitchell will turn up many hits, this seems to be a misidentification as "One Tin Soldier" does not appear on either singer's discography. They may have performed the song in concert, however.

Answer: 1969

The original release was in 1969. It got a little airplay in the US, particularly in areas near the Canadian border, but never really became a hit in the U.S.

Answer: The Legend of Billy Jack

There was a fair bit of controversy about this association.

In 1971, Jinx Dawson recorded the song with the movie's orchestra for the soundtrack of "The Legend of Billy Jack". She requested that her rock band, Coven, be credited as the performer, rather than herself. After it was released, arguments over rights to the recording caused the studio to pull the song off the radio just as it was climbing the charts.

Later, the band Coven did record the song, and released it on their own album. The Coven rendition was included on the soundtrack for the movie sequel "The Trial of Billy Jack" and was back on the charts in 1973 and 1974.

Answer: Beneath a stone

"On the mountain was a treasure
Buried deep beneath a stone."

The Jinx Dawson version of "One Tin Soldier" reached number 17 on Billboard in 1971.

Answer: In a valley

"And the valley people swore
They'd have it for their very own."


The Coven version of "One Tin Soldier" reached number 21 in 1973 and a re-release in 1974 to promote 'The Trial of Billy Jack' charted at number 73.

Answer: Manifest Destiny

Manifest Destiny was the belief that the United States was destined to expand from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean. Many thought this was God's design for America. This was used as a justification for our treatment of Native Americans and Mexicans in the 19th century. It applies to this song because humans have a remarkable ability to believe that what they want is what God wants for them, and to justify almost any action as God's work. Another song that explores this theme is "The Last Resort" by the Eagles from their 'Hotel California' album.

The Monroe Doctrine was the philosophy that the US should stay out of the affairs of Europe and the world, and that Europe and the world should stay out of the affairs of the US and other Western Hemisphere nations.

The domino theory was one of the justifications for US involvement in Vietnam - to prevent the spread of communism to Vietnam, the rest of southeast Asia and ultimately to India and even Australia.

The Marshall Plan was the idea that the Allies should provide money and manpower to help rebuild Germany and to prevent the isolation and deprivation that Germany experienced after WW I which ultimately led to the rise of Hitler and WW II.

Answer: gold

"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"

American Radio Broadcasters named "One Tin Soldier" the most requested song for 1971. And for 1973!

Answer: They offered to share the treasure.

"Came an answer from the kingdom,
'With our brothers, we will share
All the secrets of our mountain,
All the riches buried there.'"

Long before MTV, Cher created a video to accompany the song on the Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour. You can see it on YouTube here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vg84L84uop8
Yes, the Christmas hymn intro is supposed to be there.

Answer: They killed the mountain people.

"Now, the valley cried with anger,
'Mount your horses, draw your sword!'
And they killed the mountain people.
So, they won their just reward."

Skeeter Davis's 1972 version was nominated for a Grammy for Best Country Female Vocal Performance.

Answer: Peace on Earth

"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."

In truth, they won nothing, because in "winning" the treasure through violence, they had destroyed "Peace on Earth", and thus were left empty-handed.