by Robert Wilkinson
Today we honor the memory of one of the greatest musical voices of the 20th century, the legendary Woody Guthrie.
If Walt Whitman was America's first great poet, and Bob Dylan the third, then we must grant the amazing Woody Guthrie the position of the second Poet Laureate America ever had. The voice of the working person, the underdog, the "common man," Woody gave us tunes not just for the unions, not just for the field laborers, but for us all.
Woody was a rambling man, a poet, itinerant drifter, and ultimately a tragic figure who died way too young. His life is that of legend, and he left us with a treasure trove of songs giving hope to all who have labored wondering when they would be delivered to a better life. Perhaps his attitude is best summed up by what he had painted on his guitar: "This machine kills fascists." That's Woody Guthrie in a nutshell.
During the main part of his life there was no television, so much that we have are recordings off the radio and the session work he did in the studio in the 40s and 50s. For your enjoyment, songs for working people as written and performed by the legendary Woody Guthrie!
First, a real treat! Here's a documentary featuring Woody, Pete Seeger, Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee, and other pioneers in the genre. For your enjoyment, a 16 minute piece from 1946 called "To Hear Your Banjo Play"
The original! Here's Woody doing his ode to a better America, "This Land Is Your Land."
From an early radio broadcast, "All You Fascists Bound To Lose"
"Do Re Mi" (Let it buffer a few so it doesn't stop from time to time.)
"Goin Down The Road Feelin Bad"
"So Long, It's Been Good To Know You"
The next two, after some changes, became the basis of a couple of major early rock and roll hits! For your enjoyment, the originals of
An amazing find! Woody with his friends Leadbelly (vocal-guitar) Sonny Terry (Harmonica-wooos! and vocals), and Cisco Houston(guitar and vocals) doing "We Shall Be Free"
Here's Woody with Sonny Terry and Ramblin' Jack Elliott doing "Railroad Bill"
Here's a piece from the documentary "Woody Guthrie -- Voice of the Common Man." From the video, it's a documentary written and produced by Melissa Mergner in 2006, a 14-year-old high school student. "It's about how the folk singer-songwriter overcame personal hardship and tragedy to become a spokesman for those Americans affected by the Great Depression and the dust storms. Although neither a politician nor activist, Guthrie brought attention to the plight of Okies, migrant workers and other disenfranchised people. He gave music a social conscience and influenced several generations of singer-songwriters...."
Along similar lines, here's "Vigilante Man" from the 1975 documentary: "Brother Can You Spare a Dime." Footage from Bonus Riots of 1932, San Francisco General Strike of 1934, Republic Steel Strike of 1937, General Motors Labor Strike of 1937, and others. (Seems like the capitalists have had opposition for quite a while!)
Here's a couple of songs to close this birthday tribute to one of America's greatest songwriters:
"I Ain't Got No Home In This World Anymore"
Happy Birthday Woody! Your songs have made millions sit up and take notice. May the working people again rise up and throw off the chains of their masters, and may all come to know that the fascists cannot hold the power once the people band together.
© Copyright 2011 Robert Wilkinson
Thanks for the post, Robert.
I, too, am a big fan of Woody Guthrie, and certainly appreciate your reminder of his role in adolescent America within the context of today's turbulent times.
Another great reference for your readers is cited below. It's a poem written and performed by Bob Dylan after being asked to write a few sentences about Guthrie's death in the Brooklyn's State Hospital (turns out it takes 11 minutes to recite it!). I think it's being covered by a few other singers since then, and worth a look-see and a listen-to:
"Last Thoughts on Woody Guthrie"
http://www.bobdylan.com/songs/last-thoughts-woody-guthrie
Thanks for doing what you do, sparkles,
Azalea Hazelwood
Posted by: Azalea Hazelwood | July 16, 2011 at 04:24 PM