Thinking In Lyrics (April)

by Jan Hansen

I often find myself thinking in song lyrics. This is one in a series of short articles about some songs and a few of the thoughts that they prompt in me. None of these songs were written for a faith-based setting, but all of them have some elements that relate to faith, philosophy, or world view.

One Tin Soldier (Dennis Lambert and Brian Potter)

This song has always made me angry. As a kid, I didn’t realize that it was an anti-war song. I took it literally as inviting us to hate our neighbours, and I was shocked that anyone would advocate for that. As I grew older I recognized that they were inviting people to do the opposite of what they said, but I continue to be angry because there are so many whose actions show hatred for their neighbour. I see interfaith dialogue as a way of breaking down the fear that underlies some of that hatred.

You can listen to the song by following this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cTBx-hHf4BE&list=RDcTBx-hHf4BE&start_radio=1