C&L's Late Nite Music Club with Woody Guthrie

By Howie Klein Thursday Sep 20, 2007 10:03pm

Tomorrow's Blue America special guest is Sam Bennett from Pennsylvania's Leigh Valley (PA-15). When Darcy Burner said we need "more and better Democrats," she could have been talking about Sam. Come by and meet her tomorrow at Firedoglake, 2pm, EDT. When I asked her what music she likes, she went right to "This Land is Our Land" and specified her favorite version is the original by Woody Guthrie who wrote the song in 1940 as a kind of workingmen's answer to "God Bless America." It's based on an old Baptist hymn.

And of course Sam isn't the only fan of Woody's fantastic American anthem. Listen to his son Arlo do it-- along with Bruce Springsteen, Taj mahal, Emmylou Harris, Little Richard, Bono and John Mellancamp do it. There have been versions by Dylan, Peter, Paul & Mary, and... Bush's father used it as his campaign theme song.

72 comments

Frist! Don't forget in 2004 when

Thu, 09/20/2007 - 22:13 — Archae (not verified)

Frist!

Don't forget in 2004 when "Jib Jab" did that hilarious satire aniamtion using the song.

Archae @ 1: Frist! Don't forget in

Thu, 09/20/2007 - 22:14 — Archae (not verified)

Archae @ 1:

Frist!

Don't forget in 2004 when "Jib Jab" did that hilarious satire aniamtion using the song.

Sorry, animation.

Here's a prescient one: Richard and

Thu, 09/20/2007 - 22:30 — Snowball (not verified)

Here's a prescient one:

Richard and Mimi Farina

House Un-American Blues Activity Dream
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YFOWCH86u8M

Woody was a

Thu, 09/20/2007 - 22:31 — GonzoD (not verified)

Woody was a treasure!

Woody is the man. My favorite lyrics

Thu, 09/20/2007 - 22:32 — Jazzeroo (not verified)

Woody is the man.
My favorite lyrics from the song are:
As I went walking, I saw a sign there;
And on the sign there, it said, 'No Trespassing.'
But on the other side; it didn't say nothing!
That side was made for you and me.

Bienvenidos emigrantes! Buffy

Thu, 09/20/2007 - 22:35 — Snowball (not verified)

Bienvenidos emigrantes!

Buffy Sainte-Marie - Welcome, Welcome Emigrante

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vLZYzbj6zJY&mode=related&search=

And of course, a tribute to General

Thu, 09/20/2007 - 22:43 — Snowball (not verified)

And of course, a tribute to General Petraeus:

Buffy Sainte-Marie - "Universal Soldier" (1970)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fRta79wgILA&mode=related&search=

and don't forget:

Donovan - Universal Soldier

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B-IwU8aPv44&mode=related&search=

Somehow I cannot see conservatives

Thu, 09/20/2007 - 22:53 — Erroll (not verified)

Somehow I cannot see conservatives claiming this song, with its intimations of multiculturarlism, as one of their own.

But it's the original last verse (not

Thu, 09/20/2007 - 22:56 — roz (not verified)

But it's the original last verse (not included in that clip) that seems most relevant, these days:

In the squares of the city - In the shadow of the steeple
Near the relief office - I see my people
And some are grumblin' and some are wonderin'
If this land's still made for you and me.

The Gang of Four I Love A Man In A

Thu, 09/20/2007 - 22:57 — Snowball (not verified)

The Gang of Four

I Love A Man In A Uniform
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=laif78Myh4M

Jazzeroo @ 5: Woody is the man. My

Thu, 09/20/2007 - 22:57 — infomaniac (not verified)

Jazzeroo @ 5:

Woody is the man.
My favorite lyrics from the song are:
As I went walking, I saw a sign there;
And on the sign there, it said, 'No Trespassing.'
But on the other side; it didn't say nothing!
That side was made for you and me.

Agreed Jazz. My version: (hey, it just sounds better!)

There was a big high wall there that tried to stop me,
the sign was painted said "Private Property",
but on the back side it didn't say nothing.
That side was made for you and me.

Woody fans should also check out Billy Bragg's "Mermaid Avenue" disks where "lost" Guthrie song lyrics are reinterpreted by Bragg and Wilco.

...my favorite picture of

Thu, 09/20/2007 - 23:00 — 99 (not verified)

...my favorite picture of Woodie....

....my copy of Woody's song has that

Thu, 09/20/2007 - 23:01 — infomaniac (not verified)

....my copy of Woody's song has that version of lyrics -that is.

Bush's father used it? He must have

Thu, 09/20/2007 - 23:09 — anon (not verified)

Bush's father used it?

He must have thought it meant: "This land is my land. Get the hell off."

Gotta love Woody Guthrie, check out

Thu, 09/20/2007 - 23:16 — BigBison (not verified)

Gotta love Woody Guthrie, check out this photo:

http://www.iwdn.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=683&d=1181321498

"Alice's Restaurant" may be the

Thu, 09/20/2007 - 23:17 — Mugsy (not verified)

"Alice's Restaurant" may be the quintessential Arlo Guthrie anti-war protest song, but one of my favorites of his is "The Motorcycle Song"

http://www.arlo.net/resources/lyrics/pau

Thu, 09/20/2007 - 23:19 — Stanley Rosenthal (not verified)

http://www.arlo.net/resources/lyrics/pause-claus.shtml

> “The Motorcycle Song“ Sad, but

Thu, 09/20/2007 - 23:26 — Stanley Rosenthal (not verified)

> “The Motorcycle Song“

Sad, but I got to parody that "I don't want a Tazer, Just want to ride my motorcycle". (-:

sorry, but my frown came out as a

Thu, 09/20/2007 - 23:33 — Stanley Rosenthal (not verified)

sorry, but my frown came out as a backwards smiley, let's try thing - :-(

A quick search shows that Pete Seeger

Thu, 09/20/2007 - 23:38 — Bored (not verified)

A quick search shows that Pete Seeger has not been featured in the late nite music club. (Some of his songs have by other artists).

This needs to be addressed quickly..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VucczIg98Gw

Or this

Thu, 09/20/2007 - 23:39 — Bored (not verified)

Or this one..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZK1g69iHu1Q

Bring 'em Home

http://youtube.com/watch?v=2bjqYPH7rAo

Thu, 09/20/2007 - 23:40 — Vman (not verified)

http://youtube.com/watch?v=2bjqYPH7rAo

Don't forget to click on the "Sam isn't

Thu, 09/20/2007 - 23:42 — fanny babs (not verified)

Don't forget to click on the "Sam isn't the only fan" link...

Really beautiful -
Tears in your eyes stuff -
Man I love these guys.

The Pause of Mr.

Thu, 09/20/2007 - 23:48 — 99 (not verified)

The Pause of Mr. Claus

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=858373000210647484&q

Stanley Rosenthal @ 18: > “The

Thu, 09/20/2007 - 23:48 — Mugsy (not verified)

Stanley Rosenthal @ 18:

> “The Motorcycle Song“

Sad, but I got to parody that "I don't want a Tazer, Just want to ride my motorcycle". (-:

New on YouTube today:

"Can't Taze This!" parody of "Can't Touch This". (I won't link to it. Too disturbing) :)

> New on YouTube today: “Can’t

Thu, 09/20/2007 - 23:49 — Stanley Rosenthal (not verified)

> New on YouTube today: “Can’t Taze This!” ...

There's a little Al in all us parody artists ...

IMHO one of the greatest protest songs

Fri, 09/21/2007 - 00:08 — Stanley Rosenthal (not verified)

IMHO one of the greatest protest songs against the right-wing extremist lying-type propaganda campaign/machine -

http://technohippie.com/geeklog/public_html/mediagallery/media.php?s=200...

Arlo (w/Shenendoah backing): City Of

Fri, 09/21/2007 - 00:14 — Stanley Rosenthal (not verified)

Arlo (w/Shenendoah backing): City Of New Orleans -

http://youtube.com/watch?v=OfxoM6trtZE

Jack Elliott, Pete Seeger, & Malvina

Fri, 09/21/2007 - 00:49 — lafin gas (not verified)

Jack Elliott, Pete Seeger, & Malvina Reynolds - Woody's Rag
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VbuvfMAjfXY

Malvina Reynolds wrote and sings
Weeds theme song "Little Boxes"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o7Ys9RkvxgI&mode=related&search=

lafin, do you really look just like

Fri, 09/21/2007 - 00:55 — 99 (not verified)

lafin, do you really look just like Arlo, or were you just teasing me?

99 @ 29: lafin, do you really look

Fri, 09/21/2007 - 01:03 — lafin gas (not verified)

99 @ 29:

lafin, do you really look just like Arlo, or were you just teasing me?

I said my hair was gray but I was a little taller.
My nose is bigger and my voice is deeper but we could be brothers!

Okay. Good. All good.

Fri, 09/21/2007 - 01:05 — 99 (not verified)

Okay. Good. All good. 8-)

I've always imagined that LG looks more

Fri, 09/21/2007 - 01:14 — Stanley Rosenthal (not verified)

I've always imagined that LG looks more like Willie. :-)

http://youtube.com/watch?v=NUkfaBBiaUY

I didn't know if I should post this

Fri, 09/21/2007 - 01:16 — lafin gas (not verified)

I didn't know if I should post this here or on the open thread!
God Bless the Grass (Malvina Reynolds)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fWFEIpIuJ14&mode=related&search=

Stanley Rosenthal @ 32: I've always

Fri, 09/21/2007 - 01:17 — lafin gas (not verified)

Stanley Rosenthal @ 32:

I've always imagined that LG looks more like Willie. :-)

http://youtube.com/watch?v=NUkfaBBiaUY

My ponytail is more wavy than Willie's!

At the risk of irking the young'uns, I

Fri, 09/21/2007 - 01:22 — 99 (not verified)

At the risk of irking the young'uns, I was hearing this in my sleep and as I was waking up this morning....

Jimi Hendrix
All Along the Watchtower
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8aUDVpHxw9c

From The Seekers farewell concert july

Fri, 09/21/2007 - 01:28 — lafin gas (not verified)

From The Seekers farewell concert july 7 1968 in London.
This lovely song for children is composed by Malvina Reynolds.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6YP7GCXqdqU&mode=related&search=

Oh! Went nuts for this as a little

Fri, 09/21/2007 - 01:31 — 99 (not verified)

Oh!

Went nuts for this as a little bitty girl:

Chet Atkins
Orange Blossom Special
http://youtube.com/watch?v=7Svm_Vnntyk

Here is Chet Atkins with The Everly

Fri, 09/21/2007 - 01:38 — lafin gas (not verified)

Here is Chet Atkins with
The Everly Brothers & mark Knopfler "Why Worry"
http://youtube.com/watch?v=5rD6qiffsIA

lafin gas @ 38: Here is Chet Atkins

Fri, 09/21/2007 - 01:39 — lafin gas (not verified)

lafin gas @ 38:

Here is Chet Atkins with
The Everly Brothers & mark Knopfler "Why Worry"
http://youtube.com/watch?v=5rD6qiffsIA

Michael McDonald on keyboards!

99, I'd repost Schwantz Lefantz' cover

Fri, 09/21/2007 - 01:39 — Stanley Rosenthal (not verified)

99, I'd repost Schwantz Lefantz' cover of OBS, but it would blow aWAY something that preceded it so much that ... I'll only do it if I get a request. :-)

lafin gas @ 38: Here is Chet Atkins

Fri, 09/21/2007 - 01:42 — 99 (not verified)

lafin gas @ 38:

Here is Chet Atkins with
The Everly Brothers & mark Knopfler "Why Worry"
http://youtube.com/watch?v=5rD6qiffsIA

Oh, good, thanks, I think I forgot to put that one up at Zhaozhou's Mistress. I go off on these long musical trips and forget to put stuff where I can get at it again sometimes... well... often... :-P

Michael McDonald is one nice person,

Fri, 09/21/2007 - 01:45 — 99 (not verified)

Michael McDonald is one nice person, and that was a great line-up. I also loved the Neck and Neck album.

Stanley, you shouldn't hold back!

99 - > Stanley, you shouldn’t hold

Fri, 09/21/2007 - 01:49 — Stanley Rosenthal (not verified)

99 -
> Stanley, you shouldn’t hold back!

I'll take that as a request. Schwantz: The Peter Gunn Theme and Orange Blossem Special -

http://www.thesequencers.us/various/Schwantz_ThePeterGunnTheme-OrangeBlo...

Chet Atkins and Mark Knopfler Poor Boy

Fri, 09/21/2007 - 01:56 — 99 (not verified)

Chet Atkins and Mark Knopfler
Poor Boy Blues
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yCY65TzznKo

1960s Kodak ad "Turn Around" written by

Fri, 09/21/2007 - 02:04 — lafin gas (not verified)

1960s Kodak ad "Turn Around" written by Malvina Reynolds
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qBWVWjdNWC0&mode=related&search=
By the way, Malvina Reynolds was a dear friend of my family's.

Stanley Rosenthal @ 43: 99 - >

Fri, 09/21/2007 - 02:06 — 99 (not verified)

Stanley Rosenthal @ 43:

99 -
> Stanley, you shouldn’t hold back!

I'll take that as a request. Schwantz: The Peter Gunn Theme and Orange Blossem Special -

http://www.thesequencers.us/various/Schwantz_ThePeterGunnTheme-OrangeBlossomSpecial.mp3

Actually, Roy Clark probably did the best version ever, but I can't find it, just one bad one with him palavering away through most of the video. Much better to get studio versions of Clark or he talks yer brains out.

> Poor Boy Blues

Fri, 09/21/2007 - 02:07 — Stanley Rosenthal (not verified)

> Poor Boy Blues http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yCY65TzznKo

That really reminds me of Dire Straits Walk Of Life.

lafin, seems as though you grew up

Fri, 09/21/2007 - 02:10 — 99 (not verified)

lafin, seems as though you grew up around some pretty wonderful people.

My Life with the Thrill Kill Kult

Fri, 09/21/2007 - 02:11 — Loki (not verified)

My Life with the Thrill Kill Kult
Cooler than Jesus
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nhmj2K8QsGs&mode=related&search=

My Life With the Thrill Kill Kult
Dirty Little Secrets
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=52RGbvaczYI&mode=related&search=

I'm desperate to listen to Telegraph

Fri, 09/21/2007 - 02:13 — 99 (not verified)

I'm desperate to listen to Telegraph Road (from Love Over Gold) full blast while flying down the road again. I can do the whole solo at the top of my lungs behind the wheel.

Well, I have a stack of oak I have to

Fri, 09/21/2007 - 02:15 — lafin gas (not verified)

Well, I have a stack of oak I have to turn in to Morris chairs so I better get to bed. Good night 99, Stan and Sphinx where ever you are.

Brian Eno & David Byrne - Mea

Fri, 09/21/2007 - 02:15 — Loki (not verified)

Brian Eno & David Byrne - Mea Culpa
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8QLXTsviMxk&mode=related&search=

Brain Eno - Music For Airports
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0jSWwtqr6IQ

Night, lafin, Stan,

Fri, 09/21/2007 - 02:21 — 99 (not verified)

Night, lafin, Stan, all.....

Same all to the

Fri, 09/21/2007 - 02:23 — Stanley Rosenthal (not verified)

Same all to the GN'rs

Absolutely beautiful... Cocteau Twins

Fri, 09/21/2007 - 02:31 — Loki (not verified)

Absolutely beautiful...

Cocteau Twins & Harold Budd-Sea Swallow Me
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sf9jk6qk6TI

Avril 14th" - Aphex

Fri, 09/21/2007 - 02:44 — Loki (not verified)

Avril 14th" - Aphex Twin
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RXc_iC8Lej8

I was half asleep and remembered that I

Fri, 09/21/2007 - 03:11 — lafin gas (not verified)

I was half asleep and remembered that I wanted to go with this song!
Woody Guthrie - So long it's been good to know you
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zqiblXFlZuk&mode=related&search=

Jon McLaughlin - Beautiful

Fri, 09/21/2007 - 03:15 — e (not verified)

Jon McLaughlin - Beautiful Disaster
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ww0kqkX4vXQ&NR=1

Bring Them Home. By Pete

Fri, 09/21/2007 - 03:24 — Loki (not verified)

Bring Them Home. By Pete Seeger.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZK1g69iHu1Q&mode=related&search=

Pete Seeger - What Did You Learn In School?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VucczIg98Gw&mode=related&search=

Where Have All The Flowers Gone - Pete Seeger 1968 Stockholm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RhlOJm9nkwM

For all human beings with families and

Fri, 09/21/2007 - 04:33 — Loki (not verified)

For all human beings with families and beating hearts:
Amazing Grace - Marines and Bagpipes
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P5P1M5qwBwo&mode=related&search=

All right! Nice to see the Guthries

Fri, 09/21/2007 - 04:43 — Batocchio (not verified)

All right! Nice to see the Guthries featured.

Woody is the root. And he'd be in the

Fri, 09/21/2007 - 07:05 — chorocardium (not verified)

Woody is the root.

And he'd be in the front of the line to dump BushCo.

My Master's is in Bardic Storytelling,

Fri, 09/21/2007 - 09:30 — MaryK (not verified)

My Master's is in Bardic Storytelling, and Woody is part of my thesis. He was not a very nice man to his closest family and friends, but this was probably due to the disease he suffered and died from...

"This Land" was originally written with this as the final tag line:
"Is this land made for you and me?"

He changed it to what we know today and all grew up singing from gradeschool on. But Woody wrote it originally as a protest against the extreme popularity of Kate Smith's "God Bless America" and therefore the last verses were questioning the very premise of the Promised Land, as seen by one who was abandoned by his family in the Depression at age 15 and had struggled ever since.

Amazing song collector, writer, and folklorist. --MaryK

I suggest folks check out an excellent

Fri, 09/21/2007 - 09:56 — dave m (not verified)

I suggest folks check out an excellent remake of Woody's song by Jim Page -This Land Aint Your Land

Don't forget the version Tim Robbins

Fri, 09/21/2007 - 10:01 — c. atrox (not verified)

Don't forget the version Tim Robbins sang in the movie "Bob Roberts"..."This Land is My Land"...that's the way a Republican would sing it.

this land was not made for anyone by

Fri, 09/21/2007 - 10:09 — Question Blog (not verified)

this land was not made for anyone by anyone. the original inhabitants of this land were moved out and we came in with our machines and consumerism, and now this land is branded for you and me and the whole world as the center of plutocracy and fascism!

Heh...heh...heh...I think I gotta

Fri, 09/21/2007 - 15:50 — ysbaddaden (not verified)

Heh...heh...heh...I think I gotta woodie for ya...heh...heh...heh...

Billy Bragg and Wilco made a CD called

Fri, 09/21/2007 - 17:21 — jim (not verified)

Billy Bragg and Wilco made a CD called Mermaid Avenue. they put music to unknown lyrics of Woodie from his family archives. It's brilliant, take a listen.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U_m7QDckFJQ

Dylan http://youtube.com/watch?v=A4nPJ-

Fri, 09/21/2007 - 17:54 — a guy (not verified)

Dylan

http://youtube.com/watch?v=A4nPJ-YYHBc

Am I correct in assuming these

Sat, 09/22/2007 - 15:37 — Nancy (not verified)

Am I correct in assuming these commenters support open borders?

American Idol finalist Katharine

Sat, 09/22/2007 - 15:48 — JMD (not verified)

American Idol finalist Katharine McPhee:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xESMd2yY5VE

72 comments