I think this song is more of a story than any allegorical concept or reflection of modern life.
In many areas around the world, the "mission" was a place of residence owned by the Roman Catholic church, where priests could engage in the conversion of heathens to christianity. Many times these missions were protected by soldiers or free men who served a higher power, such as a royal family or the papacy.
Many times these missions were not welcome, especially when poor, starving people would look and see missionaries and priests eating well, and living under good shelter. This was especially true when the hypocrisy became apparent between what the church preached and what it actually did.
I think the song simply reflects an uprising by the people who the missionaries are trying to convert. They are freezing and starving and have had enough. They burn down the mission for warmth and shelter.
At the end.. the high powers come to seek justice and drag the man, who we must assume is the ringleader, away.
@Ovichsan I agree with your interpretation. I always believed it was about the California missions, in particular. The line "Look to the east to see where the fat stock hide" being one reason. The Camino Real was often following close to the coastline, so the cattle grazed in the valley to the east. The native-americans had to tend to the cattle as they themselves were starving due to the horrid treatment.
@Ovichsan I agree with your interpretation. I always believed it was about the California missions, in particular. The line "Look to the east to see where the fat stock hide" being one reason. The Camino Real was often following close to the coastline, so the cattle grazed in the valley to the east. The native-americans had to tend to the cattle as they themselves were starving due to the horrid treatment.
I think this song is more of a story than any allegorical concept or reflection of modern life.
In many areas around the world, the "mission" was a place of residence owned by the Roman Catholic church, where priests could engage in the conversion of heathens to christianity. Many times these missions were protected by soldiers or free men who served a higher power, such as a royal family or the papacy.
Many times these missions were not welcome, especially when poor, starving people would look and see missionaries and priests eating well, and living under good shelter. This was especially true when the hypocrisy became apparent between what the church preached and what it actually did.
I think the song simply reflects an uprising by the people who the missionaries are trying to convert. They are freezing and starving and have had enough. They burn down the mission for warmth and shelter.
At the end.. the high powers come to seek justice and drag the man, who we must assume is the ringleader, away.
@Ovichsan
@Ovichsan
Word! This is what I thought as well.
Word! This is what I thought as well.
@Ovichsan I agree with your interpretation. I always believed it was about the California missions, in particular. The line "Look to the east to see where the fat stock hide" being one reason. The Camino Real was often following close to the coastline, so the cattle grazed in the valley to the east. The native-americans had to tend to the cattle as they themselves were starving due to the horrid treatment.
@Ovichsan I agree with your interpretation. I always believed it was about the California missions, in particular. The line "Look to the east to see where the fat stock hide" being one reason. The Camino Real was often following close to the coastline, so the cattle grazed in the valley to the east. The native-americans had to tend to the cattle as they themselves were starving due to the horrid treatment.
@Ovichsan That adds so much more meaning! Thanks!
@Ovichsan That adds so much more meaning! Thanks!