American History with Folk Music

October 25, 2017 7:31 PM

How an alternative American history is entwined with folk music.
posted by MovableBookLady (9 comments total)

The first half left me wanting more of that.
posted by ActingTheGoat at 10:04 PM on October 25, 2017

This makes my heart sing. Thanks!
posted by allthinky at 4:35 AM on October 26, 2017

Thank you! A lot of history I only vaguely knew, and plenty to be proud of our liberal/union heritage. My mother-in-law was a proud member of the ILGWU, and my Dad who became a white-color worker after the war always insisted that office workers needed a union. One of my sons is in the Teamsters Union which still means he has good benefits and health care. As teen I was a fan of the folkie revival in the 60s and still love the music and the sentiment, much needed in this evil and regressive time.
posted by mermayd at 5:09 AM on October 26, 2017

this is relevant to my interests
posted by entropicamericana at 7:22 AM on October 26, 2017 [2 favorites]

I woke up with morning with Seeger's Hold the Line in my head, so it was serendipitous to have my morning coffee with this article.

The first half left me wanting more of that.

I really agree. The first chunk was a wonderful and indepth timeline of important events. And then the last third of it... a line-by-line review of a Dylan song? Kinda felt like two unrelated articles concatenated. I'm not seeing the Connected Mystery.
posted by rlk at 7:35 AM on October 26, 2017 [3 favorites]

FUTURE GENTLEMAN OF PERIOD, 1983. Evening dress coat, with lappels, collar and cuffs trimmed with sky-blue silk, gilt buttons; shirt and frill, large muslin bow with star of brilliants; white waistcoat and gilt buttons; black knee breeches, and black silk stockings; shoes, and sky-blue rosettes and buckles, straw-coloured gloves, fan, bouquet, and scent-bottle. (p. 27)
posted by Hypatia at 8:59 AM on October 26, 2017

I'm guessing that this excerpt is from a book and the endpoint was badly chosen.

I'm also guessing that Hypatia meant that comment to go with the What Shall We Wear post. Or not.
posted by MovableBookLady at 1:51 PM on October 26, 2017 [2 favorites]

Amen, entropicamericana and thank you MovableBookLady
posted by y2karl at 11:29 PM on October 26, 2017 [1 favorite]

I'm guessing that this excerpt is from a book and the endpoint was badly chosen.

I think you're right. The author wrote a book called, Grown-Up Anger: The Connected Mysteries of Bob Dylan, Woody Guthrie, and the Calumet Massacre of 1913. I would be willing to bet that the book has a stronger connection between early 20th Century musical lefties and Bob Dylan.

I wasn't trying to criticize the article, it was more of a line-item favorite. I was fascinated by the first half of the article and have placed a request for the book from the library. Thank you for another great post MovableBookLady!
posted by ActingTheGoat at 7:06 PM on October 27, 2017 [1 favorite]