The Arizona Sword

And The Moral Order Of The Universe

The Arizona Sword is a song written by Leslie Fish, who is something of a counter culture singer, guitarist and song writer. It's based on a supposed legend from Arizona during the time it belonged to Spain, and tells the tale of a rich man going to a blacksmith and ordering a magic sword that he wants to use to conquer the valley in which he lives. The sword smith is also a magician, and the would be lord wants a magic sword that will be sufficient to the task of overcoming all normal swords. The blacksmith suspects the motives of his client, thinking he's a bad man who plans to use it to become lord of all he surveys. (In researching this I have discovered a company named Arizona Swords. I know nothing of them, am not connected to them and don't recommend or not recommend them.)

https://oldtimemusic.com/w2/the-meaning-behind-the-song-the-arizona-sword-by-leslie-fish/

"Blacksmith, make a sword for me, such as none did ever see
For ancient symbols of majesty have power in troubled times
Blacksmith, make me a magic sword, one that will make me the valley's lord
Whom folk will hail with one accord to save them from their crimes."

From: https://genius.com/Leslie-fish-the-arizona-sword-lyrics

The blacksmith/magician incorporates runes into the blade declaring that it can only be used to protect life and liberty, reading “I serve but the good of life and liberty.” Upon acquiring his new sword he threatens to kill the blacksmith just to keep his fee, but after the blacksmith escapes the aspiring tyrant loudly proclaims that his day has arrived and that his new sword will make him king of the valley. At that point the sword slips in his hand and kills him.

(We may encourage all and sundry to have engraved “I serve but the good of life and liberty” on any or all of their weapons, but they will probably not end up with a mind of their own. Any manufacturers out there, consider said engraving in your appropriate language.)

This would seem to be a story more than about weapons, but rather power in general and the human propensity to abuse said power for one's own benefit. Unfortunately, all of the various kinds of swords in use to control the valleys of the world don't have magical runes attached, and their owners might linger for years as general nuisances. The problem then is how to attach some sort of equivalent to their weapons. Ideally the law and the justice system provide such protection, sending perpetrators to jail and so forth, but that does not seem to be an adequate defense. The checks and balance system provided by the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights is one as well. The idea is that any power that the powerful have should, if possible, have an attachment that punishes the abuse of that power.

"Every people, every society, needs a culture of resistance, a culture of being difficult and disobedient, that is the only way they will ever be able to stand up to the inevitable abuse of power by whoever runs the state apparatus, the capitalists, the communists, the socialists, the Gandhians, whoever." ~ Arundhati Roy

"A fondness for power is implanted in most men, and it is natural to abuse it when acquired." ~ Alexander Hamilton

Politicians are sort of like merchants in that they trade with others and make deals, but instead of the currency being money the currency is power, not that they don't get rich in the process. When you see one of them posturing on TV about the beneficence of his proposed legislation you can be sure that in some way he has arranged for a transfer of power, another small Arizona Sword in his pocket. One would like to think that some of them do things for the right reasons, and I think that there are some who do, or at least factor it in to their thinking.

"How a politician stands on the Second Amendment tells you how he or she views you as an individual... as a trustworthy and productive citizen, or as part of an unruly crowd that needs to be lorded, controlled, supervised, and taken care of."

• Rep. Suzanna Gratia, Hupp (Texas)

What Representative Hupp seems to be saying is that your politician may or may not be like the would be valley lord, and you may see a little into his nature by what he says about the second amendment.

“All who live by the sword die by the sword.” Jesus

Jesus, I believe, is referring to those such as the man in the story of the Arizona sword, those who make their livings by an abuse of violence and power. He was saying that there is a moral order of the universe which acts against those of such nature, and the tale of the Arizona sword is a legend that reflects that reality. In his statement about turning the other cheek I think he was talking about not being contentious, he did not mean that you should allow evil to flourish or let yourself be victimized. He told his disciples to buy a sword if they did not already have one as part of preparation for traveling.

Remember that what you do over time will change you for good or bad. Your thoughts must be controlled so that you don’t move in the direction of being the would be tyrant in the song The Arizona Sword.

The last lines of the song are:

Beware, ye tyrant! Beware, ye fool! For who is the master and who the tool?
Ye may well serve, but ye shall not rule the Arizona Sword

Stay Brave, Stay Free