ต้นมะขามสนามหลวง (Sanam Luang Tamarind Tree) English title: The Hanging Tree

ต้นมะขามสนามหลวง (Sanam Luang Tamarind Tree) English title: The Hanging Tree
By Faiyen ไฟเย็น
From the excellent NEW Faiyen album “Songs from One of Our Comrades, Part 1” บทเพลงของมิตรสหายท่านหนึ่ง ภาค 1, released June 19, 2016, available at Bandcamp.CLICK HERE to purchase the song or PURCHASE THE WHOLE ALBUM.
Melody by Jeremiah Fraites, Wesley Schultz
Arrangement by Koontong of Faiyen
Lyrics in Thai by Jom of Faiyen and Naem

Note: On October 6, 2016, it is the 40th Anniversary of the Thammasat University Massacre of 50 to 100 student pro-democracy protesters by the Thai, military, and royalist vigilante groups at the university and adjacent Sanam Luang square in downtown Bangkok. The iconic picture from this event is of an already dead protester hung by a rope from a tree, being beaten with a folding chair. Thousands of students had been protesting the return to Thailand of the dictator Thanom Kittikachorn, who had been driven out of Thailand three years before by mass street protests. Days before, the students had staged a reenactment of the recent hanging of a labor rights activist by vigilantes. When a picture of the mock hanging was published, some claimed that the actor hanged in the reenactment looked like the Prince. Right-wing radio show hosts accused the students of lese-majesty (insulting royalty) and shouted that their right-wing listeners should come into Bangkok and “Kill the Communists.” From Wikipedia on “Thammasat University massacre”: “After a free-fire order was issued by the Bangkok police chief, the campus was stormed, with Border Patrol Police personnel in front leading the attack. Students diving into the Chaophraya River were shot at by navy vessels while others who surrendered, lying down on the ground, were picked up and beaten, many to death. Some were hung from trees and beaten, others were set afire while female students were raped, alive and dead, by police and Red Gaurs. The massacre continued for several hours, and was only halted at noon by a rainstorm.” In addition 3,000 students were arrested. They were made to strip to the waist and crawl on the ground as they surrendered. No one was ever prosecuted. This is a cover of a song from The Hunger Games.

WARNING: VIDEO CONTAINS GRAPHIC SCENES OF DEATH AND VIOLENCE

Are you, are you coming to the tree
Where they strung up a man
They say who murdered three
Strange things did happen here
No stranger would it be
If we met up at midnight in the hanging tree

Are you, are you coming to the tree
Where the dead man called out for his love to flee
Strange things did happen here
No stranger would it be
If we met up at midnight in the hanging tree

Are you, are you coming to the tree
Where I told you to run, so we’d both be free
Strange things did happen here
No stranger would it be
If we met up at midnight in the hanging tree

Are you, are you coming to the tree
Wear a necklace of rope, side by side with me
Strange things did happen here
No stranger would it be
If we met up at midnight in the hanging tree

ต้นไม้ ต้นนี้ หากเธอเคยมาที่นี่
This tree . . . if you’ve ever come here
ที่เคยแขวนคอคนร้าย ผู้ไม่จงรักภักดี
Where they once hung a criminal, a disloyal person
เรื่องจริงสิ่งแสนประหลาด อาจเคยคุ้นขึ้นทุกที
The very strange true story. Maybe we’re getting used to it happening every, every time
เมื่อเราพบกันบนคบไม้ ภายใต้แสงราตรี
When we meet each other by the torch under the light of night
ต้นไม้ ต้นนี้ หากเธอเคยมาที่นี่
This tree . . . if you’ve ever come here
ที่ที่เขาบอกคนรัก ให้หลบหายไปทันที
The place someone told a lover to quickly escape [from here]
เรื่องจริงสิ่งแสนประหลาด อาจเคยคุ้นขึ้นทุกที
The very strange true story. Maybe we are getting used to it happening every, every time
เมื่อเราพบกันบนคบไม้ ภายใต้แสงราตรี
When we meet each other by the torch under the light of night

ต้นไม้ ต้นนี้ หากเธอเคยมาที่นี่
This tree . . if you ever came here
ที่ร่ำร้องให้เธอนั้น ร่วมฝันถึงอิสรี
Where we beg you to join in dreaming of liberty
เรื่องจริงสิ่งแสนประหลาด อาจเคยคุ้นขึ้นทุกที
The very strange true story. Maybe we are getting used to it happening every, every time
เมื่อเราพบกันบนคบไม้ ภายใต้แสงราตรี
When we meet each other by the torch under the light of night

ต้นไม้ ต้นนี้ หากเธอเคยมาที่นี่
This tree. If you’ve ever come here
มาร่วมทางเคียงข้างฉัน ผู้เคยจงรักภักดี
Come together alongside me, those who’ve loved and been loyal
เรื่องจริงสิ่งแสนประหลาด อาจเคยคุ้นขึ้นทุกที
The very strange true story. Maybe we are getting used to it happening every, every time
เมื่อเราพบกันบนคบไม้ ภายใต้แสงราตรี
When we meet each over the torch under the light of night

* Where we fear no pain and unchain from hanging tree
Where we fear no pain and unchain from hanging tree
ปลดปล่อยพันธนาการ สู่จิตวิญญาณเสรี
Released from confinement, going out a freed spirit
ปลดปล่อยพันธนาการ สู่จิตวิญญาณเสรี
Released from confinement, going out a freed spirit