Transcript prepared by Fielding M. McGehee III. If you use this material, please credit The Jonestown Institute. Thank you.
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Song 1:
Vocalist is likely Marceline Jones
They come from the north, south, the east and the west
They’re coming together
To sing and to praise him
To sing and praise and glorify
His socialist name.
Our father is calling his children together
They come from the north, south, the east and the west
They’re coming together
To sing and to praise him
To sing and praise and glorify
His socialist name.
(Repeats)
Song 2:
I don’t know why he came
I don’t know why he gives his life for me
He’s so precious, so precious to me
Oh, he gives his life for us that we can be free
A better way for you and me to sing
It’s a life of peace and equality for me
He’s so precious, so precious to me
(Calls out) Now everybody sing, ‘cause some of you are not singing not clapping your hands.
(Sings) Why Father loves me
(speaks) Sing out very loud, c’mon
(Sings) I don’t know why he came
I don’t know why he gives his life for me
He’s so precious, so precious to me
Mm, he gives his life for us that we can be free
A better way for you and me to sing
It’s a life of peace and equality for me
He’s so precious, so precious to me
I don’t know why Father loves me
I don’t know why he cares
I don’t know why he gives his life for me
He’s so precious, so precious to me
(tape edit)
Song 3:
This is our socialist land
A place of equality
We have won the victory
Working and living in a land that is free
This is our socialist land
Father gave it to me
Oh, this is our socialist land
Father gave it to me
This is our socialist land
A place of equality
We have won the victory
Working and living in a land that is free
This is our socialist land
Father gave it to me
Oh, this is our socialist land
Father gave it to me
This is our socialist land
A place of equality
We have won the victory
Working and living in a land that is free
This is our socialist land
Father gave it to me
Oh, this is our socialist land
(calls out) C’mon, sing it out now
(Sings) Yes, this is our socialist land
A place of equality
We have won the victory
Working and living in a land that is free
This is our socialist land
Father gave it to me
(tape edit)
Song 4:
Oh, we know the way to get to freedom
We know the way to get to freedom
Standing at the crossroads, and we know which way
To go, which way to go,
Oh, the road to the left is rocky
People travel it now and then
The road to the left is rocky
But there’s a light shining at the end
(Repeated three more times)
Oh, we know the way to get to freedom
We know the way to get to freedom
Standing at the crossroads, and we know which way
To go, which way to go.
(tape silence for several moments)
Song 5:
Calypso rhythm, to the tune of “The Banana Boat Song” Vocalist is likely Shawn Baker
(background singers) –came to Guyana to make it our home
(lead) He brought us to this socialist land
Came to Guyana to make it our home
Working together with cutlass in hand
Came to Guyana to make it our home
Chorus: Jonestown, love it
Came to Guyana to make it our home
Jonestown, love it
Came to Guyana to make it our home
So nice to be in this beautiful place
Came to Guyana to make it our home
With everyone of every race
Came to Guyana to make it our home
Chorus
We plant our food and watch it grow
Came to Guyana to make it our home
And then we have a feast, you know
Came to Guyana to make it our home
Chorus
Plenty bananas and cassava too
Came to Guyana to make it our home
It’s good to eat for me and you
Came to Guyana to make it our home
Chorus
He brought us to this socialist land
Came to Guyana to make it our home
Working together with cutlass in hand
Came to Guyana to make it our home
Chorus
So nice to be in this beautiful place
Came to Guyana to make it our home
With everyone of every race
Came to Guyana to make it our home
Chorus
We plant our food and watch it grow
Came to Guyana to make it our home
And then we have a feast, you know
Came to Guyana to make it our home
Chorus
Plenty bananas and cassava too
Came to Guyana to make it our home
It’s good to eat for me and you
Came to Guyana to make it our home
Chorus
(tape edit)
Song 6:
Chorus: Comrade, welcome to the socialist land
Comrade, welcome to the socialist land
Comrade, welcome to the socialist land
Aren’t you glad to be in the socialist land
Chorus repeated
Our father’s brought us a long, long way
To the land of plenty
The oppressors they can’t stop us now
Our friends like you, we have many
Hey!
Chorus
You’ve come– with the– (laughs)
You had in San Francisco
If you don’t leave that mess alone
Your jaw will break like crystal
Hey, hey, hey!
Chorus
You came here with the same old mess
You had in San Francisco
If you don’t leave that mess alone
Your jaw will break like crystal
Hey, hey, hey!
Chorus
I’d like to say hello to you
And welcome you to our (unintelligible word)
Just sit right back, enjoy yourself
With only the beginning
Hey!
Chorus
My father brought us a long, long way
To the land of plenty
The oppressors they can’t stop us now
But friends like you, we have many
Hey, hey, hey!
Chorus
You came here with the same old mess
You had in San Francisco
If you don’t leave that mess alone
Your jaw will break like crystal
Hey, hey, hey!
Chorus
Chorus repeated
Chorus repeated
(tape edit)
Song 7:
Gone halfway, and we just can’t stop
‘Cause at the top of the mountain, there’s (unintelligible)
I can see Father standing next to me now
I thank Father
I’m reaching for the top
Chorus: Climbing up the mountain
We’re climbing up the mountain
We’re climbing up the mountain
We’re climbing up the mountain
Climbing up the mountain
Going to reach the top
‘Cause at the top of the mountain, we’ll (unintelligible)
I can see Father standing next to me there
I thank Father
I’m reaching for the top
Chorus
‘Cause at the top of the mountain, there’s (unintelligible)
I can see Father standing next to me there
I thank Father
I’m reaching for the top
Almost finished our battle
Gone halfway, and we just can’t stop
‘Cause at the top of the mountain, there’s (unintelligible)
I can see Father standing next to me there
I thank Father
I’m reaching for the top
Chorus
‘Cause at the top of the mountain, there’s (unintelligible)
I can see Father standing next to me there
I thank Father
I’m reaching for the top
Chorus
‘Cause at the top of the mountain, there’s (unintelligible)
I can see Father standing next to me there
I thank Father
I’m reaching for the top
(tape edit)
Song 8:
Well, you know I’m just another soldier with a cutlass in my hand
I’m just another worker with a cutlass in my hand
Hey, chop two three four
Rest some time, then chop some more
I’m just another worker with a cutlass in my hand
You know, I’m just another worker with a cutlass in my hand
I’m just another worker with a cutlass in my hand
Hey, chop two three four
Rest some time, then chop some more
I’m just another worker with a cutlass in my hand
You know, I’m just another soldier in the army– my of love
I’m just another soldier in the army of love
Hey, chop two three four
Rest some time, then chop some more
I’m just another soldier in the army of love
I’m just another soldier with a cutlass in my hand
I’m just another worker with a cutlass in my hand
Chop two three four
Rest some time, then chop some more
I’m just another worker with a cutlass in my hand
Hey, you know, I’m just another soldier in the army– my of love
I’m just another soldier in the army– my of love
Chop two three four
(unintelligible word) some time, (unintelligible)
I’m just another soldier in the army of love
And now hate is my enemy, gotta fight it at night
Love is the only weapon, for which I have to fight
I believe if I show more love for my fellow man
Then one day I will hold the victory in my hand.
That’s why I’m just another soldier in the army– my of love
I’m just another soldier in the army– my of love
Chop two three four
(unintelligible word) some time, (unintelligible)
I’m just another soldier in the army of love
Now hate of my friend Martin, it was fought here by my side
This army lead you, my friend, this army leads me
I believe if I show more love for my fellow man
Then one day I will hold the victory in my hand.
That’s why I’m just another worker with a cutlass in my hand
I’m just another worker with a cutlass in my hand
Chop two three four
Rest some time, then chop some more
I’m just another worker with a– with a cutlass in my hand
(tape edit)
Song 9:
(Adaptation of the Hymn of the Soviet Union, singing led by Jim Jones)
United forever, friendship and labor
Mighty people shall ever endure
A great socialist union shall live through the ages
A dream of a people, their fortress secure
Long live this socialist motherland
Built by the workers’ mighty hand
Long live her people united and free
Long live this socialist dream
(speaks) Thank you.
Crowd: (Applause)
Jones: I think some of you’ve forgotten the great sacrifices that it’s been called for to get at this point in time. The negotiations, all sorts of diversions. We did not find peace the moment we arrived. We had to fight to defend our– our very existence, and we are privileged at least tonight to know that anything I guess worth having is worth fighting for.
Crowd: Right. (Applause)
Jones: Peace. (tape edit) And we know very well what it is to fight for what we believe. We’ve fought all through our lives for what we believe. We’re fighting at this very moment. The Oliver family [Beverly and Howard Oliver] have gathered a great storm of confusion and intend to come over here and take their children [Bruce and William Oliver] back, and of course we have that fight going on tonight in Georgetown by getting the young man married [Bruce Oliver married Shanda James]. The fight is never, never ceased for me, and I don’t suppose it ever shall. But when I can see you sing, I can see growth in the youth beyond anything that one could dream, the change in countenances from dull, insipid behavior, unconcern, hostile, to outgoing, socio-centric thought, from capitalistic indulgence and self-centeredness, even racism in some instances, to the beauty of communist practice, then whatever hell I have to endure is worth that hell, to see this demonstration.
Crowd: Yeah. (Applause)
Jones: Because the hell goes on. I have to plan for my own, because I would never’ve put the whole of this body in a very je– in a jeopardous position because of anything that concern me. So we have to plan trips and all sorts of things, to cause no more weight to be put upon this body than necessary. I don’t need to explain that any further than I have, I think. I think you really realize how much I love the collective. I’m always making plans so that the collective will not be brought to a confrontation over me. Certainly not me or my own. But there are points when we have to consider confrontation. We’re not going to have a confrontation over the Olivers, because we got him married. But one day, there could be a confrontation. Who knows. It doesn’t bother us very much, though, because we have been through the belly of hell. We were in the va– we were in the belly of the beast. We saw the CI[A] practically overthrow this country, or a conspiracy practically undo it. We saw all of its good leaders silenced, and we saw them gain the ascendancy again, and an era of goodwill come every time they come up the drive. But we could remember not many days ago when every time someone came down those roads, it was not friendly.
Crowd: Right.
Jones: And some of the same people that’ve been made to be friendly and smile at us now, some of those same local officials that are now smiling, because they’ve been given federal orders at the top level, were looking with austere looks of hate that could’ve penetrated uh, a man if he would been made of steel. But we’re glad that we have come this far, because it has steeled our own spine. It has committed our feelings more deeply than anything could’ve possibly committed it, when you have to face that battle line out there that surrounded this territory, that surrounded it for many, many days, three days and three nights solidly, when you go through that kind of hell, you come out with an army.
Crowd: Right. (Applause)
Jones: Peace. (Pause) We have an army. There may be some that did now know what the sound of that distant beat of drummer was, of that drumbeat of socialism, but enough came out that there’s a mighty army up here, an army that will make its own conditions. We will survive together, cohesively, as long as we can build communalism. Let bureaucrats come and go. As long as we can exist, and we w– we are not particularly concerned what the hell politicians are doing in the world. But we want the world to know that we will exist together or we shall die together.
Crowd: (Cheers and applause)
Jones: (Ministerial tone) Those terms– those terms must never be sacrificed, those terms must never be altered. That commitment must always be known in the back recesses of every person’s mind, that we are family, that no other movement has produced the kind of behavior that you, as witnessing in the countenances of our people tonight, that nothing else has brought young people out of the doldrums of apathy and out of direct aggressive hostility and backward lifestyles and anarchy, no other movement has been able to bring the cohesion and the unity and sense of purpose. This unity came from this family, and this family will have to stay together, and anyone that wants to penetrate it or divide it or in way circumvent it, they’re going to have hell to pay.
Crowd: (Cheers and applause)
Jones: Peace. We don’t know about the communism of the rest of the world, but we know about the communism that’s here. And that communism has satisfied us, and is going to continue to satisfy us, because we’re going to improve upon it. And wherever we go, we go together. And right now, we’re here in comfort. Don’t worry, there’s no trouble around the corner that we know of. We’ve gone two weeks in peace. Charles Garry has come back– gone back to the States and on the air, and raving about this being a paradise. Glad that nobody shot at him for four days. (Laughs) I– I was just meditating on one thing, let Charlie get home without getting shot at. Because he stayed in some of the places that I’d laid my head, and I sure was meditating strongly that nobody took a shot at his toupee. ‘Cause his toupee, had it been shot at, uh, this place woulda changed from paradise to hell. But all– and the uh, conspiracy rested for several days, it’s still resting two or three days after he’s gone. But we don’t give a shit if they rest or not, we are ready.
Crowd: Right. (Applause)
Jones: Peace. It’s obvious Grace Stoen, who wanted to get an airline ticket from us just a few months ago, and then cashed it in because she was hard up. There’s a lot of money behind Mrs. Stoen, to reach down and buy attorneys on two continents and attempt to buy judges in the [Guyana] Supreme Court in the highest tribunal of justice here, and reach out and buy investigators and do other kind of damn rot. We’re very glad to know that there [they] have that much interest in us. We’re also glad that we frustrated them all. Because they counted on me having put in their hands uh, my– uh, my son [John Victor Stoen]. But they didn’t get what they were looking for. They didn’t get what they were looking for. And now they’ve frustrated their whole scheme, because they intended to visit us with all of our contrary relatives and cantankerous sons-a-bitches that we call our blood kin, and we have had that visit postponed and we’re so glad.
Crowd: (Cheers and applause)
Jones: But let us never lose sight of the revolution, the peace and justice that we share, the equality and the goodwill and the good food. Yesterday, we didn’t know whether we was going to have much more of that. But we’re all able to pull ourselves together and remedy every situation, because some farm planning hadn’t been done. In the midst of war, you don’t plan much about planting. And so some of the farm planting had dropped down, now it’s being picked up, and we will expect everybody to participate, because production of the land is going to be the highest goal, from security to trim it down to the lowest, ‘cause I’m still pretty good with my trusty little six-shooter. So trusty– trust that Father can take care of himself during these times, and let us get into the fields these next two weeks.
End of tape.
Tape originally posted May 2013