"How can I keep from singing..."
May 8, 2017 8:37 PM   Subscribe

"Pete Seeger..... spoke with Bill a number of times over the years, and even sang a few of his folk songs. In remembrance of the activist and folksinger, we’ve pulled together some highlights..." Some messages for today....
posted by HuronBob (2 comments total) 8 users marked this as a favorite
 
How can I keep from singing brought tears to my eyes. (I take issue with his remark re not having a voice anymore.) I recommend following the link to "Pete Seeger on What it Takes to Change the World".

Last week I sent my 20-something kids the annual reminder about the Kent State shootings—part of the "those who don't remember history are condemned to repeat it" lesson. But given that they've lived a significant portion of their lives during the Obama presidency (in fact, they were in Grant Park on election night 2008), they've never felt the alienation from government, i.e., the lack of shared values, that I grew up with in the late '60s and '70s. This year my Kent State message included my fear that this isn't my country anymore and that it is beyond recovery.

After listening to Seeger, who had 35 years on me and saw more than I will ever see, talk with such hope about changing the world, I'm feeling a bit foolish re my defeatist remarks and I will be forwarding this to both of them. Thank you for the post that's relieving (at least temporarily) the funk I've been in since November.

Here's another feel-good moment: Seeger and Springsteen singing Guthrie's This Land is Your Land at Obama's inauguration. Related: Guthrie wrote "This machine kills fascists" on his guitar.
posted by she's not there at 10:56 PM on May 8, 2017 [4 favorites]


That midwestern cracked-wheat flukey wonderful voice, emitted by a genuine Harvard New England Brahman, what a great gift he had as a performer and icon for us, well, folk!
posted by Chitownfats at 5:44 PM on May 9, 2017


« Older Beauty Happens   |   Stop Clowning Around Newer »


This thread has been archived and is closed to new comments