Tin Horns

 

This grassroots ballad deals with a cause in which the entire band, and Keith especially are heavily involved: The 1845 Upstate New York Rent Wars. In establishing the Calico Foundation, and becoming the founding member of the Dingle Hill Reenactment Society, Keith has shown generous support for his pet project. He has even gone so far as to seek out the descendants of Undersheriff Osman Steele and pray with them for forgiveness. Always willing to educate acquaintances and passers-by on the subject, he feels it is vital to our present that we understand this past. Keith’s vocals on this track are moving, and as the eerie “warning” at the end suggests – this history could repeat itself.

Written By: Chico Finn, Dan Finn and Keith Christopher
Keith Christopher –  Guitar, Drums, Bass, Vocals
Dan Finn – Vocals
Andris Balins – Saxaphone, Backing Vocals
Chico Finn – Backing Vocals

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Lyrics:

Well they banded together
In their calico garb.
Called themselves Indians
To protect their farms
Hiding in the rocks With their firearms

Deputy came to collect the rent
A riot broke out, and
Steele was shot in the head.
Guess what, he had it coming

In 18 hundred and forty five
Steele was pierced by lead
Aint no farmer gonna pay no rent
To work their own homestead

Lead pierces iron
But it can’t pierce Steele
That got proven wrong
On Dingle hill, Up on Dingle hill

The farmers rebelled
And gave the rent collector what for
Went down in history As the anti-rent war

There was no man standing
There was no stone unturned
Oh, it’s alright now

They banded together in calico garb
Called themselves Indians
To protect their farms, On Dingle Hill

A Plaque marks the spot
On Dingle hill
An epic cause reverberates still, On dingle hill

Tin horn sounds the warning
Tin horn sounds the warning.