The summer of Woody Guthrie

Oakland Tribune ^ | 7/13/12 | Jim Harrington

[ProtectOurFreedom]

Woody Guthrie will always be remembered as the guy who wrote "This Land is Your Land."

But he was so much more. If you're not sure why his 100th birthday, which would have been Saturday, is being celebrated far and wide this summer, here's a clue from Country Joe McDonald, the famed Woodstock festival veteran who knows a thing or two about penning catchy protest songs.

"I think he's become the embodiment of the American dream," says the Berkeley musician, "at a time when the American dream is kind of dying." To be sure, those familiar with Guthrie's work know that the protest songs he wrote decades ago about workers' rights, immigrants, income disparity and the environment seem more relevant than ever.

"Woody was writing about the '1 percent' long before it had a name," says UC Berkeley professor Peter Glazer, who has written a stage musical about Guthrie.

Guthrie, who died at age 55 of Huntington's disease in 1967, captured an era in American history like no other songwriter. His humbly poetic lyrics, which portrayed the Everyman perspective of the Dust Bowl and Great Depression, profoundly influenced generations of protest songwriters, from Bob Dylan to Bruce Springsteen to the Bay Area's own Joan Baez and Michael Franti.

That influence extends beyond American shores, McDonald points out: "People all over the world love Woody Guthrie."

[HereInTheHeartland]

How about “Your land is Your Land; My Land is my land” as alternative lyrics.

[what's up]

I read recently that in '09 they finally included that verse at Obama's inauguration after leaving it out for decades.

[ProtectOurFreedom]

Stephen Foster will still be sung long after Guthrie is totally forgotten.

Funny you mention that. This is one of my favorite CDs. Highly recommended...

[FreedomPoster]

Think? It has been for at least 70 years.

See the Hayek quote on my FR profile page for some insight into some of the main reasons why. It’s the 3rd one down, the two-paragrapher.

Beyond that, read Jonah Goldberg’s Liberal Fascism for additional history and insights on this subject.

[x]

Stephen Foster will still be sung long after Guthrie is totally forgotten.

Years ago in primary school, we had to sing a lot of what I later found out where Stephen Foster songs. But you don't hear his work much lately. "Tis summer, the darkies are gay" and "Still longing for de old plantation" don't quite go over well nowadays.

Woody Guthrie, a songwriter? I don't think he actually created those melodies. They were traditional or by long forgotten composers with maybe a few minor changes. His lyrics weren't always very memorable either. We've had great songwriters -- plenty of them -- but some people are stuck on the folk thing and don't care about talented songwriters who don't fit in with it.

[yarddog]

Beautiful Dreamer was my Mother’s favorite song. It is also one of mine.

At Mother’s funeral a Cousin who has a professional tenor voice sang it along with the choir. A perfect song for such a beautiful and sweet Mother.

[samtheman]

Glazer adds that Woody likely had no idea how timeless the material he was writing would turn out to be.

Really? Timeless? Outside of a few aged (formerly aging) hippie never-have-beens in Berkeley, I'd say his stuff is pretty forgettable, and pretty much long forgotten.

[ProtectOurFreedom]

Beautiful Dreamer is a wonderful song. How very nice to have it sung at your mother’s funeral. It must have been very touching. Check out Suzy Boguss’ version on American Folk Songbook.

Suzy does a magnificent version of “Ah, May The Red Rose Live Always” also by Stephen Foster and on the same CD. Lyrics are just wonderful and the counterpoint of the plaintive fiddle against her sweet voice is incredible.

[dfwgator]

Communists are Fascists in overalls.

[Borges]

To his credit, Seeger renounced Stalin many years back.

[Talisker]

Communists are Fascists in overalls.

Catchy. I like.

[eddie willers]

Yeah....some songs have to be gussied up to be PC and some are too 'old fashioned', but some are as fresh as this morning.

Try this youtube link:

Emmylou Harris : Hard Times

Let us pause in life’s pleasures and count its many tears
While we all sup sorrow with the poor:
There’s a song that will linger forever in our ears;
Oh! Hard Times, come again no more.

Chorus:
’Tis the song, the sigh of the weary;
Hard Times, Hard Times, come again no more:
Many days you have lingered around my cabin door;
Oh! Hard Times, come again no more.

While we seek mirth and beauty and music light and gay,
There are frail forms fainting at the door:
Though their voices are silent, their pleading looks will say
Oh! Hard Times, come again no more.

Chorus

There’s a pale drooping maiden who toils her life away,
With a worn heart whose better days are o’er:
Though her voice would be merry, ’tis sighing all the day
Oh! Hard Times come again no more.

Chorus

’Tis a sigh that is wafted across the troubled wave,
’Tis a wail that is heard upon the shore,
’Tis a dirge that is murmured around the lowly grave,
Oh! Hard Times, come again no more.

Chorus

[elcid1970]

A very, very qualified renunciation of Stalin, with Seeger asking everybody to renounce ALL dictators, ALL injustices & ALL persecutions that have ever happened anywhere in the world at any time in human history, not just Stalin’s.

In other words, Seeger’s renunciation smacked of Jane Fonda’s “apology” to Vietnam veterans: hardline adherence to communism is bad for sales.

[Revolting cat!]

Seeger renounced Stalin many years back

Just a few years back (1995) and reluctantly at that. Worshipper of a mass murderer he remains.

[boop]

Don't forget that Grandpa Walton, Will Geer was gay, too.

Didn't know that Burl Ives was a commie. Too bad. Great singer.