{"id":29087,"date":"2013-06-16T00:17:30","date_gmt":"2013-06-16T00:17:30","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/alternativejonestown.com\/?page_id=29087"},"modified":"2019-07-19T18:28:42","modified_gmt":"2019-07-20T01:28:42","slug":"rose","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/jonestown.sdsu.edu\/?page_id=29087","title":{"rendered":"Q042 Transcript, Stephen Rose"},"content":{"rendered":"

Jonestown Audiotape Primary Project : Transcripts<\/strong>
\n Transcript prepared by Stephen Rose<\/strong><\/p>\n

Tape Number : Q 042, the so-called “Death Tape”<\/strong><\/p>\n

To return to the Index of Transcripts of the “Death Tape,”\u00a0click here<\/a>.
\nTo review the Index of Summaries,\u00a0click here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The following partial transcript of the death tape appears as an appendix in Stephen Rose, Jesus and Jim Jones: Behind Jonestown<\/a><\/i> (New York: The Pilgrim Press, 1979), pp. 214-227.<\/p>\n

\n

APPENDIX 21<\/b><\/p>\n

The Tape<\/p>\n

After completing the body of this book I had an opportunity to listen to a
\ntape recording that purports to represent the voice of James Jones and his followers
\nand the cries of children and others during the last moments in Jonestown. I
\nam a person who is more audio than visual \u2013 that is, I judge more by what I
\nhear with my ears than by what I see through a pair of rather poor eyes. The
\ntape corresponded substantially to the transcript that follows. That transcript
\nfirst appeared in the New York Times on March 15, 1979. After listening to the
\ntape, I checked with an acquaintance in the television industry to be sure that
\nthe voice on the tape was actually that of Jim Jones. Elaborate tests with voice
\nexperts confirmed that the voice was almost surely his. The tape had been edited,
\nof what I do not know. I was led to believe that the most responsible act would
\nbe to include in this appendix the transcript as published by the New York Times.
\nThe New York Times prefaced its publication by stating that “sources who are
\nfamiliar with investigations of Peoples Temple have indicated that the contents
\nof this tape are identical with portions of the Government-held tape that have
\nbeen disclosed over the last few months.” Reading will hardly convey the impression
\nthat listening provides. It is of a man substantially in control of a multitude
\nto the point that even when confronted with a sensible effort to stop the carnage
\nhe is able at once to rally the crowd against the brave woman protestor and
\nat the same time to act as her protector after she has been threatened by the
\ncrowd. One hears on the tape Jones’s control over the lives of both black and
\nwhite followers. One hears a reiteration of the conflict over John-John Stoen.
\n(One wonders who Ejar is. Is it another name for the young Stoen child?) One
\nhears, too, the ambiguity surrounding the final events. Did Jones decree the
\ncarnage at Kaituma airstrip \u2013 the doom of the congressman and the others? Or
\nwas he simply a passive witness of the acting out of pathologies on the part
\nof his inner circle of guards and followers?<\/p>\n

I have talked with others who hear in the tape things I do not hear, and because
\nthe tape itself is merely at this writing “purported,” I shall not attempt to
\nclaim for it the status of evidence. The suspicion must be that it will ultimately
\nbe revealed as authentic and that the largely quiet conversational, but sometimes
\nnagging and petulant, voice on the tape is that of a man who was capable over
\nthe years of making hundreds and hundreds of people believe that death with
\nhim was preferable to life without him. It is the mutest of testimonies to a
\nworld in which values \u2013 even truth itself \u2013 are torn from their moorings, leaving
\nin their path a debris of superstition (secular or religious \u2013 it does not matter),
\nparanoia, and will toward death. The transcript follows:<\/p>\n

Excerpts From Transcript of a Purported Tape of Final Moments at Jonestown<\/b><\/p>\n

Following are excerpts from a transcript of a tape recording obtained by The
\nNew York Times from the International Home Video Club Inc. of New York. It purports
\nto be a recording of the final 43 minutes of the mass deaths at Jonestown, Guyana,
\nlast Nov. 18, in which the followers of the Rev. Jim Jones died. Sources who
\nare familiar with investigations of Peoples Temple have indicated that
\nthe contents of this tape are identical with portions of the Government-held
\ntape that have been disclosed over the last few months.<\/p>\n

JONES:<\/b> I’ve tried my best to give you a good life.<\/p>\n

In spite of all that I’ve tried, a handful of our people, with their lies, have
\nmade our life impossible. There’s no way to detach ourself from what’s happened
\ntoday.<\/p>\n

Not only are we in a compound situation; not only are there those who have left
\nand committed the betrayal of the century; some have stolen children from others
\nand they are in pursuit right now to kill them, because they stole their children.
\nAnd we are sitting here waiting on a powder keg.<\/p>\n

So, to sit here and wait for the catastrophe that’s going to happen on that
\nairplane \u2013 it’s going to be a catastrophe. It almost happened here. Almost
\nhappened when the Congressman was nearly killed here. You can’t steal people’s
\nchildren. You can’t take off with people’s children without expecting a violent
\nreaction. And that’s not so unfamiliar to us, either, even if we \u2013 even
\nif we were Judeo-Christian \u2013 if we weren’t Communists. The world opinion
\nsuffers violence and the violent shall take it by force. If we can’t live in
\npeace then let’s die in peace.<\/p>\n

[Applause.]<\/p>\n

We’ve been so betrayed. We have been so terribly betrayed<\/p>\n

[Music and singing.]<\/p>\n

What’s going to happen here in a matter of a few minutes is that one of those
\npeople on that plane is going to shoot the pilot \u2013 I know that. I didn’t plan
\nit, but I know it’s going to happen. They’re gonna shoot that pilot and down
\ncomes that plane into the jungle. And we had better not have any of our children
\nleft when it’s over. Because they’ll parachute in here on us.<\/p>\n

I’m going to be just as plain as I know how to tell you. I’ve never lied to
\nyou. I never have lied to you. I know that’s what’s gonna happen. That’s what
\nhe intends to do; and he will do it. He’ll do it.<\/p>\n

What’s with being so bewildered with many, many pressures on my brain seeing
\nall people behave so treasonous \u2013 there was just too much for me to put together.
\nBut I now know what he was telling me. And it’ll happen. If the plane gets in
\nthe air even.<\/p>\n

So my opinion is that you be kind to children, and be kind to seniors, and take
\nthe potion like they used to take in Ancient Greece, and step over quietly;
\nbecause we are not committing suicide \u2013 it’s a revolutionary act. We can’t go
\nback; they won’t leave us alone. They’re now going back to tell more lies, which
\nmeans more Congressmen. And there’s no way, no way we can survive.<\/p>\n

Anybody. Anyone that has any dissenting opinion, please speak. Yes. You can
\nhave an opportunity, but if the children are left, we’re going to have them
\nbutchered. We can make a strike, but we’ll be striking against people that we
\ndon’t want to strike against. We’d like to get the people who caused this stuff;
\nand some \u2013 if some people here are prepared and know how to do that, to go in
\ntown and get Timothy Stoen, but there’s no plane. There’s no plane. You can’t
\ncatch a plane in time.<\/p>\n

‘They’ll Not Take Our Death In Vain’ [Rose subhead]<\/p>\n

He’s responsible for it. He brought these people to us. He and Deanna Myrtle.
\nThe people in San Francisco will not \u2013 not be idle. Or would they? They’ll not
\ntake our death in vain, you know. Yes.<\/p>\n

WOMAN:<\/b><\/b> Is it too late for Russia?<\/p>\n

JONES:<\/b> At this point, it’s too late for Russia. They killed. They started to
\nkill. That’s why it makes it too late for Russia. Otherwise, I’d say, yes, sir,
\nyou bet your life. But it’s too late. I can’t control these people. They’re
\nout there. They’ve gone with the guns. And it’s too late. And once we kill anybody
\n\u2013 at least, that’s the way I’ve always \u2013 I’ve always put my lot with you. If
\none of my people do something, that’s me.<\/p>\n

And they say I don’t have to take the blame for this \u2013 but I don’t live that
\nway. They said, deliver up Ejar; we tried to get the man back here. Ejar, whose
\nmother’s been lying on him, and lying on him, and trying to break up this family.
\nAnd they’ve all agreed to kill us by any means necessary. Do you think I’m going
\nto deliver them Ejar? Not on your life.<\/p>\n

MAN:<\/b> I know a way to find Stoen if it’ll help us.<\/p>\n

JONES:<\/b> No. You’re not going. You’re not going. You’re not going. I can’t live
\nthat way. I cannot live that way. I’ve lived with \u2013 for all; I’ll die for all.
\n[Applause.]<\/p>\n

I’ve been living on hope for a long time, Christine and I appreciate \u2013 you’ve
\nalways been a very good agitator. I like agitation because you have to see two
\nsides of one issue \u2013 two sides of a question.<\/p>\n

But what those people are gonna get done; and what they get through will make
\nour lives worse than hell. Will make us \u2013 will make the rest of us not accept
\nit. When they get through lying.<\/p>\n

They posed so many lies between there and that truck that we are \u2013 we are done
\nin as far as any other alternative.<\/p>\n

WOMAN:<\/b><\/b> Well, I say let’s make an air \u2013 airlift to Russia. That’s what I say.
\nI don’t think nothing is impossible, if you believe it.<\/p>\n

JONES:<\/b> How are we going to do that? How are you going to airlift to Russia?<\/p>\n

WOMAN:<\/b><\/b> Well, I thought they said if we got in an emergency, they gave you a
\ncode to let them know.<\/p>\n

JONES:<\/b> No, they didn’t. They gave us a code that they’d let us know on that
\nissue; not us create an issue for them. They said that we \u2013 if they saw the
\ncountry coming down they’d give us a code. They’d give us a code. We can check
\non that and see if it’s on the code. Did you check with Russia to see if they’ll
\ntake us in a minute but otherwise we die?\\<\/p>\n

I don’t know what else to say to these people. But to me death is not a fearful
\nthing. It’s living that’s cursed. I have never, never, never, never seen anything
\nlike this before in my life. I’ve never seen people take the law and do \u2013 in
\ntheir own hands and provoke us and try to purposely agitate mother of children.
\nThere is no need to finish us; it’s not worth living like this. Not worth living
\nlike this.<\/p>\n

WOMAN:<\/b><\/b> I think that there were too few who left for 1,200 people to give them
\ntheir lives for those people that left.<\/p>\n

JONES:<\/b> Do you know how many left?<\/p>\n

WOMAN:<\/b><\/b> Oh, 20-odd. That’s a small \u2013<\/p>\n

JONES:<\/b> Some 20-odd.<\/p>\n

WOMAN:<\/b><\/b> Compared to what’s here.<\/p>\n

‘What’s Gonna Happen?’ [Rose subhead]<\/p>\n

JONES:<\/b> 20-odd. But what’s gonna happen when they don’t leave? I hope that they
\ncould leave. But what’s gonna happen when they don’t leave?<\/p>\n

WOMAN:<\/b><\/b> You mean the people here?<\/p>\n

JONES:<\/b> Yeah, what’s going to happen to us when they don’t leave, when they get
\non the plane and the plane goes down?<\/p>\n

WOMAN:<\/b><\/b> I don’t think they’ll go down.<\/p>\n

JONES:<\/b> You don’t think they’ll go down? I wish I could tell you was right \u2013
\nbut I’m right. There’s one man there who blames, and rightfully so, Judy Blakey
\nfor the murder \u2013 for the murder of his mother, and he’ll \u2013 he’ll stop that pilot
\nby any means necessary. He’ll do it. That plane’ll come out of the air. There’s
\nno way you fly a plane without a pilot.<\/p>\n

WOMAN:<\/b><\/b> I wasn’t speaking about that plane. I was speaking about a plane for
\nus to go to Russia.<\/p>\n

JONES:<\/b> How \u2013 To Russia? You think Russia’s gonna want \u2013 no \u2013 You think Russia’s
\ngonna want us with all this stigma? We had some value, but now we don’t have
\nany value.<\/p>\n

WOMAN:<\/b><\/b> Well I don’t see it like that. I mean, I feel like that \u2013 as long as
\nthere’s life there’s hope. That’s my faith.<\/p>\n

JONES:<\/b> Well, some everybody dies. Some place that hope runs out; because everybody
\ndies. I haven’t seen anybody yet didn’t die. And I like to choose my own kind
\nof death for a change. I’m tired of being tormented to hell, that’s what I’m
\ntired of. Tired of it. [Applause.]<\/p>\n

To have other people’s lives in my hands, and I certainly don’t want your life
\nin my hands. I’m going to tell you, Christine, without me, life has no meaning.
\n[Applause.] I’m the best thing you’ll ever have.<\/p>\n

I want \u2013 want \u2013 I have to pay \u2013 I’m standing with [inaudible]. I’m standing
\nwith those people. They’re part of me. I could detach myself \u2013 my attorney says,
\ndetach myself No, no, no, no, no, no. I never detach myself from any of your
\ntroubles. I’ve always taken your troubles right on my shoulders. And I’m not
\ngoing to change that now. It’s too late. I’ve been running too long. Not going
\nto change now. [Applause.]<\/p>\n

Maybe the next time you’ll get to go to Russia. The next time round. This is
\n\u2013 what I’m talking about now is the dispensation of judgment. This is a revolutionary
\n\u2013 a revolutionary suicide council. I’m not talking about self \u2013 self-destruction.
\nI’m talking about what we have no other road. I will take your call; we will
\nput it to the Russians. And I can tell you the answer now, because I’m a prophet.
\nCall the Russians and tell them and see if they’ll take us.<\/p>\n

WOMAN:<\/b><\/b> I said I’m not ready to die.<\/p>\n

JONES:<\/b> I don’t think you are.<\/p>\n

WOMAN:<\/b><\/b> But I know what you meant.<\/p>\n

JONES:<\/b> I don’t think you are.<\/p>\n

WOMAN:<\/b><\/b> But I look at all the babies and I think they deserve to live.<\/p>\n

JONES:<\/b> But don’t they deserve much more \u2013 they deserve peace.<\/p>\n

WOMAN:<\/b><\/b> We all came here for peace.<\/p>\n

JONES:<\/b> And we’ve \u2013 have we had it?<\/p>\n

WOMAN:<\/b><\/b> No.<\/p>\n

JONES:<\/b> I tried to give it to you. I’ve laid down my life, practically. I’ve
\npractically died every day to give you peace. And you still not have any peace.
\nYou look better than I’ve seen you in a long while but it’s still not the kind
\nof peace that I want to give you.<\/p>\n

WOMAN:<\/b><\/b> I know that. But I still think, as an individual, I have a right to \u2013<\/p>\n

JONES:<\/b> You do, and I’m listening.<\/p>\n

WOMAN:<\/b><\/b> \u2013 to say what I think, what I feel. And I think we all have a right to
\nour own destiny as individuals.<\/p>\n

JONES:<\/b> Right.<\/p>\n

WOMAN:<\/b><\/b> And I think I have a right to choose mine and everybody else has a right
\nto choose theirs.<\/p>\n

JONES:<\/b> Yes. I’m not criticizing.<\/p>\n

WOMAN:<\/b><\/b> Well I think I still have a right to my own opinion.<\/p>\n

JONES:<\/b> I’m not taking it from you. I’m not taking it from you.<\/p>\n

‘Your Life Has Been Extended’ [Rose subhead]<\/p>\n

MAN:<\/b> Christine, you’re only standing here because he was here in the first place.
\nSo I don’t know what you’re talking about, having an individual life. Your life
\nhas been extended to the day that you’re standing there because of him.<\/p>\n

JONES:<\/b> I guess she has as much right to speak as anybody else to. What did you
\nsay, Ruby? [Voice.] Well you’ll regret that, this very day if you don’t die.
\nYou’ll regret it if you do though you don’t die. You’ll regret it.<\/p>\n

JONES:<\/b> I saved them. I saved them, but I made my example. I made my expression.
\nI made my manifestation and t-he world was ready, not ready for me. Paul said
\nI was a man born out of due season. I’ve been born out of due season, just like
\nall we are \u2013 and the best testimony we can make is to leave this goddamn world.
\n[Applause.]<\/p>\n

WOMAN:<\/b><\/b> You must prepare to die.<\/p>\n

WOMAN:<\/b><\/b> I’m not talking to her. Will you let \u2013 would you let her or let me talk?<\/p>\n

JONES:<\/b> Keep talking.<\/p>\n

WOMAN:<\/b><\/b> Would you make her sit down and let me talk while I’m on the floor or
\nlet her talk.<\/p>\n

JONES:<\/b> How can you tell the leader what to do if you live. I’ve listened to
\nyou. You asked me about Russia. I’m right now making a call to Russia. What
\nmore do you suggest? I’m listening to you. You’ve yet to give me one slight
\nbit of encouragement. I just now … to go there and do that.<\/p>\n

[Voices.]<\/p>\n

JONES:<\/b> Everybody hold it. We didn’t come \u2013 hold it. Hold it. Hold it. Hold it.<\/p>\n

[Voices.]<\/p>\n

JONES:<\/b> Lay down your burdens. I’m gonna lay down my burden. Down by the riverside.
\nShall we lay them down here by the side of Guyana? No man didn’t take our lives.
\nRight now. They haven’t taken them. But when they start parachuting out of the
\nair, they’ll seek some of our innocent babies. I’m not \u2013 I don’t want … They’ve
\ngot to shoot me to get through to some of these people. I’m not telling them
\ntake your child. Can you let them take your child? [Voices: No. No. No.]<\/p>\n

JONES:<\/b> I want to see [Lots of voices.] Please, please, please, please, please,
\nplease, please.<\/p>\n

MAN:<\/b> I’m ready to go. If you tell us we have to give our lives now, we’re ready
\n\u2013 all the rest of the sisters and brothers are with me.<\/p>\n

JONES:<\/b> Some months I’ve tried to keep this thing from happening. But I now see
\nit’s the will \u2013 it’s the will of Sovereign Being that this happened to us. That
\nwe lay down our lives in protest against what’s been done.<\/p>\n

That we lay down our lives to protest at what’s being done. The criminality
\nof people. The cruelty of people. Who walked out of here today. Do you know
\nwho walked out. Mostly white people. [Voices.] Mostly white people walked.<\/p>\n

I’m so grateful for the ones that didn’t \u2013 those who knew who they are. I just
\nknow there’s no point \u2013 there’s no point to this. We are born before our time.
\nThey won’t accept us. And I don’t think we should sit here and take any more
\ntime for our children to be endangered; because if they come after our children,
\nwe give them our children, then our children will suffer forever.<\/p>\n

WOMAN:<\/b><\/b> [Unintelligible.]<\/p>\n

JONES:<\/b> What comes now, folks, what comes now.<\/p>\n

MAN:<\/b> Everybody hold it.<\/p>\n

JONES:<\/b> Say peace. Say peace. Say peace. Say peace. What’s come. Don’t let \u2013
\nTake Dwyer on down to the east house. Take Dwyer.<\/p>\n

WOMAN:<\/b><\/b> Everybody be quiet please.<\/p>\n

MAN:<\/b> That means sit down, sit down. Sit down.<\/p>\n

‘I Tried So Very, Very Hard’ [Rose subhead]<\/p>\n

JONES:<\/b> They know. I tried so very, very hard. They’re trying over here to see
\nwhat’s going to happen in Los Angeles. Who is he?<\/p>\n

[Voices.]<\/p>\n

JONES:<\/b> Get Dwyer out of here before something happens to him. Dwyer. I’m not
\ntalking about Ejar. I said Dwyer. Ain’t nobody gonna take Ejar. I’m not lettin’
\n\u0152em take Ejar.<\/p>\n

WOMAN:<\/b><\/b> At one time, I felt just like [inaudible], but after today I don’t feel
\nanything because the biggest majority of the people that left here for a fight
\nand I know it really hurt my heart because \u2013<\/p>\n

JONES:<\/b> Broke your heart, didn’t it?<\/p>\n

WOMAN:<\/b><\/b> It broke my heart completely. All of this year the white people had been
\nwith us and they’re not a part of us. So we might as well end it now; because
\nI don’t see [Music and voices.]<\/p>\n

JONES:<\/b> Well it’s all over, all over. What a legacy, what a legacy. What’s the
\nRed Brigade doing, and one’s that ever made any sense anyway? They invaded our
\nprivacy. They came into our home. They followed us 6,000 miles away. Red Brigade
\nshowed them justice. The Congressman’s dead.<\/p>\n

Please get us some medication. Simple. It’s simple, there’s no convulsions with
\nit. It’s just simple. Just, please, get it. Before it’s too late. The G.D.F.
\nwill be here, I tell you, get movin’, get movin’, get movin’. [Voices.]<\/p>\n

Don’t be afraid to die. You’ll see people land out here. They’ll torture some
\nof our children here. They’ll torture our people. They’ll torture our seniors.
\nWe cannot have this.<\/p>\n

Are you going to separate yourself from whoever shot the Congressman? I don’t
\nknow who shot him.<\/p>\n

VOICES:<\/b> No. No. No.<\/p>\n

JONES:<\/b> Let’s make our peace. And those had a right to go, and they had a right
\nto \u2013 how many are dead? Aw, God, Almighty God. Huh. Patty Park is dead? [Voices.]<\/p>\n

WOMAN:<\/b><\/b> Some of the others who are … long enough in a safe place to write about
\n…<\/p>\n

JONES:<\/b> I don’t know how in the world they’re ever going to write about us. It’s
\njust too late. It’s too late. The Congressman’s dead. The … Many of our … are
\ndead. They’re all laying out there dead.<\/p>\n

JONES:<\/b> Please can we hasten? Can we hasten with our medication? You don’t know
\nwhat you’ve done. I tried. [Applause and music.]<\/p>\n

JONES:<\/b> They saw it happen and ran in the bush and dropped the machine guns.
\nNever in my life. But there’ll be more. But we’ve got to move. Are you gonna
\nget that medication here? You’ve got to move. Approximately about 40 minutes.<\/p>\n

WOMAN:<\/b><\/b> Do … have to know when the people that are standing there in the aisles,
\ngo stand in the radio room yard, everybody get behind a table and back this
\nway. O.K. There’s nothing to worry about. Everybody keep calm; and try and keep
\nyour children calm. And all those children that help, let the little children
\nin and reassure them. They’re not crying from pain; it’s just a little bitter-tasting,
\nthey’re not crying out of any pain. Annie Miguel, can I please see you back
\n…<\/p>\n

‘Sit Down and Be Quiet’ [Rose subhead]<\/p>\n

MAN:<\/b> So much to do before I came here. So let me tell you about it. It might
\nmake a lot of you feel a little more comfortable. Sit down and be quiet, please.<\/p>\n

One of the things that I used to do, I used to be a therapist. And the kind
\nof therapy that I did had to do with reincarnation in past life situations.
\nAnd every time anybody had an experience of going into a past life, I was fortunate
\nenough through father to be able to let them experience it all the way through
\ntheir death, so to speak.<\/p>\n

And everybody was so happy when they made that step to the other side.<\/p>\n

WOMAN:<\/b><\/b> I just want to say something for everyone that I see that is standing
\naround, or crying. This is nothing to cry about. This is something we could
\nall rejoice about. We could be happy about this. They always told us that we
\ncould cry when you’re coming into this world. So we’re leaving it, and we’re
\nleaving it peaceful, I think we should be \u2013 you should be happy about this.
\nI was just thinking about Jim Jones. He just has suffered and suffered and suffered.
\nWe have the honor guard and we don’t even have a chance to … here … one more
\nchance. That’s few that’s gone. There’s many more here … That’s not all of us.
\nThat’s not all, yet. That’s just a few that have died. I’m looking at so many
\npeople crying. I wish you would not cry. [Applause.] I’ve been here one year
\nand nine months. And I never felt better in my life. Not in San Francisco, but
\nuntil I came to Jonestown. I had a … life. I had a beautiful life. I don’t see
\nnothing that I should be crying about. We should be happy. At least I am \u2013 [Applause.]<\/p>\n

[Music. ]<\/p>\n

WOMAN:<\/b><\/b> Good to be alive today. I just like to thank Dad, \u0152cause he was the only
\none that stood up for me when I needed him. And thank you, Dad.<\/p>\n

WOMAN:<\/b><\/b> I’m glad that you’re my brothers and sisters. I’m glad
\nto be here.<\/p>\n

[Voices.]<\/p>\n

JONES:<\/b> Please, for God’s sake, let’s get on with it. We’ve lived \u2013
\nwe’ve lived as no other people lived and loved. We’ve had as much of this world
\nas you’re gonna get. Let’s just be done with it. Let’s be done with the agony
\nof it.<\/p>\n

[Applause.]<\/p>\n

JONES:<\/b> It’s far, far harder to have to walk through every day, die slowly \u2013
\nand from the time you’re a child till the time you get gray, you’re dying.<\/p>\n

Dishonest, and I’m sure that they’ll \u2013 they’ll pay for it. They’ll pay for it.
\nThis is a revolutionary suicide. This is not a self-destructive suicide. So
\nthey’ll pay for this. They brought this upon us. And they’ll pay for that. I
\nleave that destiny to them.<\/p>\n

[Voices.]<\/p>\n

JONES:<\/b> \u2013 wants to go with their child has a right to go with their child. I
\nthink it’s humane. I want to go \u2013 I want to see you go, though. They can take
\nme and do what they want \u2013 whatever they want to do. I want to see you go. I
\ndon’t want to see you go through this hell no more. No more. No more. No more.<\/p>\n

We’re trying. If everybody \u2013 relax. The best thing you do to relax and you won’t
\nhave no problem. You’ll have no problem with this thing. If you just relax.<\/p>\n

MAN:<\/b> \u2013 a great deal because it’s Jim Jones. And the way the children are laying
\nthere now. I’d rather see them lay like that than to see them have to die like
\nthe Jews did, which was pitiful anyhow. And I just like to thank Dad, who give
\nthem this life, and also death. And I appreciate the fact the way our children
\nare going. Because, like Dad said, when they come in, what they’re going to
\ndo to our children \u2013 they’re going to massacre our children.<\/p>\n

And also the ones that they take capture, they’re gonna just let them grow up
\nand be dummies, like they want them to be. And not grow up to be a person like
\nthe one and only Jim Jones. So I’d like to thank dad for the opportunity for
\nletting Jonestown be not what it could be, but what Jonestown is. Thank you,
\nDad.<\/p>\n

[Applause]<\/p>\n

MAN:<\/b> It is not to be feared. It is not to be feared. It is a friend. It’s a
\nfriend. Sitting there show your love for one another. Take your time \u2013<\/p>\n

JONES:<\/b> Let’s get gone. Let’s get gone. Let’s get gone. We had nothing we could
\ndo. We can’t separate ourselves from our own people. For 20 years laying in
\nsome old rotten nursing home. Taking us through all these anguish years. They
\ntook us and put us in chains and that’s nothing. This business \u2013 that business
\n\u2013 there’s no comparison to that, to this.<\/p>\n

They’ve robbed us of our land and they’ve taken us and driven us and we tried
\nto find ourselves. We tried to find a new beginning. But it’s too late. You
\ncan’t separate yourself from your brother and your sister. No way I’m going
\nto do it. I refuse. I don’t know who fired the shot. I don’t know who killed
\nthe Congressman. But as far as I’m concerned I killed him. You understand what
\nI’m saying. I killed him. He had no business coming. I told him not to come.<\/p>\n

WOMAN:<\/b><\/b> Right. Right.<\/p>\n

[Music.]<\/p>\n

[Children crying.]<\/p>\n

JONES:<\/b> I, with respect, die with the beginning of dignity. Lay down your life
\nwith dignity. Don’t lay down with tears and agony. It’s nothing to death. It’s
\nlike Mac said, it’s just stepping over to another plane. Don’t be this way.
\nStop this hysterics. This is not the way for people who are Socialists or Communists
\nto die. No way for us to die. We must die with some dignity … we have no choice.
\nNow we have some choice. Do you think they’re gonna allow this to be done? And
\nallow us to get by with this? You must be insane \u2013 children, it’s just something
\nto put you to rest. Oh God.<\/p>\n

[Children crying.] Mother, mother, mother, mother, mother, please. Mother please.
\nPlease. Please. Don’t do this. Don’t do this. Lay down your life with your child.
\nBut don’t do this.<\/p>\n

Free at last. Keep \u2013 keep your emotions down. Keep your emotions down. Children,
\nit will not hurt. If you’d be \u2013 if you be quiet. If you be quiet. [Music.] [Children
\ncrying.]<\/p>\n

It’s never been done before, you say. It’s been done by every tribe in history.
\nEvery tribe facing annihilation. All the Indians of the Amazon are doing it
\nright now. They refuse to bring any babies into the world. They kill every child
\nthat comes into the world. Because they don’t want to live in this kind of a
\nworld.<\/p>\n

Death ‘A Million Times Preferable’ [Rose subhead]<\/p>\n

So be patient. Be patient. Death is \u2013 I tell you, I don’t care how many screams
\nyou hear; I don’t care how many anguished cries, death is a million times preferable
\nto spend more days in this life. If you knew what was ahead of you \u2013 if you
\nknew what was ahead of you, you’d be glad to be stepping over tonight.<\/p>\n

Death, death, death is common to people. And the Eskimos, they take death in
\ntheir stride. Let’s be digni \u2013 let’s be dignified. If you quit telling them
\nthey’re dying \u2013 if you would also stop some of this nonsense \u2013 adults, adults,
\nI call on you to stop this nonsense.<\/p>\n

I call on you to quit exciting your children, when all they’re doing is going
\nto a quiet rest. I call on you to stop this now, if you have any respect at
\nall. Are we black, proud, and Socialists \u2013 or what are we. Now stop this nonsense.
\nDon’t carry this on any more. You’re exciting your children.<\/p>\n

All over and it’s good. No, no sorrow that it’s all over. I’m glad it’s over.
\nHurry. Hurry, my children. Hurry. All I \u2013 the hands of the enemy. Hurry, my
\nchildren. Hurry. There are seniors out here that I’m concerned about. Hurry.
\nI don’t want any of my seniors to this mess. Only quickly, quickly, quickly,
\nquickly, quickly. Let’s just \u2013 Good knowing you.<\/p>\n

No more pain, Al. No more pain, I said, Al. No more pain. Jim Cobb is laying
\non the airfield dead at this moment. [Applause.] Remember, the Oliver woman
\nsaid she \u2013 she’d come over and kill me if her son wouldn’t stop her. These,
\nthese are the people \u2013 the peddlers of hate. All we’re doing is laying down
\nour lives. We’re not letting them take our lives. We laying down our lives.
\nPeace in their lives. They just want peace.<\/p>\n

MAN:<\/b> I’d like to say that my \u2013 my so-called parents are filled with so much
\nhate and treachery. I think you people out here should think about your relatives
\nwere and be glad about that the children are being laid to rest. And I’d like
\nto say that I thank dad for making me strong to stand with it all and make me
\nready for it. Thank you.<\/p>\n

JONES:<\/b> All they do is taking a drink. They take it to go to sleep. That’s what
\ndeath is, sleep. \u2013 I’m tired of it all.<\/p>\n

WOMAN:<\/b><\/b> Everything we could have ever done, most loving thing all of us could
\nhave done and it’s been a pleasure walking with all of you in this revolutionary
\nstruggle. No other way I would rather go than to give my life for Socialism,
\nCommunism, and I thank Dad very, very much.<\/p>\n

WOMAN:<\/b><\/b> Dad’s love and nursing, goodness and kindness and bring us to this land
\nof freedom. His love \u2013 his mother was the advance \u2013 the advance guard to Socialism.
\nAnd his love, his nurses will go on forever unto the fields of<\/p>\n

JONES:<\/b> to that, to that, to that, words to that \u2013 was the green scene thing.<\/p>\n

WOMAN:<\/b><\/b> Go on unto the sign. And thank you, Dad.<\/p>\n

JONES:<\/b> With the green \u2013 and please bring it here so the adults can begin. \u2013
\nyou don’t, don’t fail to follow my advice. You’ll be sorry. You’ll be sorry.<\/p>\n

We do it, than that they do it. Have trust. You have to step across. We used
\nto think this world was \u2013 this world was not our home, and it sure isn’t \u2013 saying,
\nit sure wasn’t. \u2013 don’t want to tell them. All he’s doing \u2013 if they will tell
\nthem \u2013 assure these \u2013 can’t some people assure these children of the \u2013 in stepping
\nover to the next plane. They set an example for others. We said \u2013 1,000 people
\nwho said, we don’t like the way the world is.<\/p>\n

Take our life from us. We laid it down. we got tired. We didn’t commit suicide;
\nwe committed an act of revolutionary suicide protesting the conditions of an
\ninhumane world.<\/p>\n

[Organ music.]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Jonestown Audiotape Primary Project : Transcripts Transcript prepared by Stephen Rose Tape Number : Q 042, the so-called “Death Tape” To return to the Index of Transcripts of the “Death Tape,”\u00a0click here. To review the Index of Summaries,\u00a0click here. The following partial transcript of the death tape appears as an appendix in Stephen Rose, Jesus […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":0,"parent":29084,"menu_order":6,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-29087","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/jonestown.sdsu.edu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/29087","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/jonestown.sdsu.edu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/jonestown.sdsu.edu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jonestown.sdsu.edu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jonestown.sdsu.edu\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=29087"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/jonestown.sdsu.edu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/29087\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":90597,"href":"https:\/\/jonestown.sdsu.edu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/29087\/revisions\/90597"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jonestown.sdsu.edu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/29084"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/jonestown.sdsu.edu\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=29087"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}