I agree with Itienke. I was hoping to find a great discussion happening here, and am sad there is not.
I have listened to this song for a long time, hearing it first in the "Billy Jack" movie when I was pre-teen. Over the years I have thought a lot about its meaning, to me, and to the world in general.
This song is one of the few to have the power to make me cry, still, after all these years.
The 'tin soldier' mentioned in the song has always been a symbol of the soul-less human to me. Let me explain. He is shiny and polished, hollow and empty. Cheaply made, as tin is not a precious metal. Willing to be moved in any direction by whatever hand moves it, as a chess piece is dependent on this for movement.
This representation of tin soldier/soul-less human gets connected by the ability of those few who are able to act without conscience or fear of retribution. That, to me is the 'tin soldier'. The person who is empty inside, and cheaply made.
And after thinking about it for a while, I suppose the 'one tin soldier' could also be just a regular person that endures. Regular as 'tin' is a common, inexpensive, light yet strong, metal. But, as the 'tin' also implies, not impenetrable, not warm like gold, or soft like silver. Not heavy and hard like steel, but flexible and shape-able, pierce-able, cut-able.
And after thinking about it for a while, I suppose the 'one tin soldier' could also be just a regular person that endures. Regular as 'tin' is a common, inexpensive, light yet strong, metal. But, as the 'tin' also implies, not impenetrable, not warm like gold, or soft like silver. Not heavy and hard like steel, but flexible and shape-able, pierce-able, cut-able.
That is the one thing I have never been able to figure out. Should we feel empathy for the 'tin soldier'? Should he be admired and lauded? Should he be a hero? Or should we feel contempt for...
That is the one thing I have never been able to figure out. Should we feel empathy for the 'tin soldier'? Should he be admired and lauded? Should he be a hero? Or should we feel contempt for him?
I agree with Itienke. I was hoping to find a great discussion happening here, and am sad there is not.
I have listened to this song for a long time, hearing it first in the "Billy Jack" movie when I was pre-teen. Over the years I have thought a lot about its meaning, to me, and to the world in general.
This song is one of the few to have the power to make me cry, still, after all these years. The 'tin soldier' mentioned in the song has always been a symbol of the soul-less human to me. Let me explain. He is shiny and polished, hollow and empty. Cheaply made, as tin is not a precious metal. Willing to be moved in any direction by whatever hand moves it, as a chess piece is dependent on this for movement.
This representation of tin soldier/soul-less human gets connected by the ability of those few who are able to act without conscience or fear of retribution. That, to me is the 'tin soldier'. The person who is empty inside, and cheaply made.
And after thinking about it for a while, I suppose the 'one tin soldier' could also be just a regular person that endures. Regular as 'tin' is a common, inexpensive, light yet strong, metal. But, as the 'tin' also implies, not impenetrable, not warm like gold, or soft like silver. Not heavy and hard like steel, but flexible and shape-able, pierce-able, cut-able.
And after thinking about it for a while, I suppose the 'one tin soldier' could also be just a regular person that endures. Regular as 'tin' is a common, inexpensive, light yet strong, metal. But, as the 'tin' also implies, not impenetrable, not warm like gold, or soft like silver. Not heavy and hard like steel, but flexible and shape-able, pierce-able, cut-able.
That is the one thing I have never been able to figure out. Should we feel empathy for the 'tin soldier'? Should he be admired and lauded? Should he be a hero? Or should we feel contempt for...
That is the one thing I have never been able to figure out. Should we feel empathy for the 'tin soldier'? Should he be admired and lauded? Should he be a hero? Or should we feel contempt for him?