Tuesday, January 28, 2014

Pete Seeger--Waist Deep in the Big Muddy and If I Had a Hammer

It just happens sometimes---I found a CD of Mr. Seeger (the album) "Waist Deep in the Big Muddy and Other Love Songs",  from 1967, and brought it home, setting it aside by my computer to play. Pete Seeger's performance of this song  on the CBS variety show, "The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour" in 1967 or so that gave prime-time network television a bit of dissent over the rapidly expanding American war in Vietnam. The "cultural wasteland" or genial but shallow situation-comedies, cop shows and and happy singing tune-stylists on other variety shows was invaded by Seeger's own brand of anti-war activism.  And he and so many others were just getting warmed up.

Seeger earned his stripes travelling with the likes of Woody Guthrie and later facing Congressional disapproval during the Red Scare Era of the late 40's and 50's.  One doesn't have to agree  with everything an artist sings or writes or says to admire him or her deeply.  As he got older, his strength as both a performer and an activist who  believed music could change minds and make us all a bit more human to one another has left a marvelous legacy I hope others in his field can continue to follow.  

 
Listening to the album this morning, after hearing of his death last night, I had a sense of how much his presence will be missed as much as his legacy will live on and on.

 As Arlo Guthrie put it this morning, "Of course he passed away, but he's still around".  






RIP Pete Seeger


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9 comments:

  1. AaranAardvarkJanuary 28, 2014 at 3:24 PM

    Very well put Doug, Pete Seeger will be a great loss , but as Arlo Guthrie says (who should know better than the son of Woody)... he'll still be around for a long time to come. Pete Seeger changed the face of music and even the shape of 5 string banjos by extending their necks.....he was a phenomenon, the spirit of the age... an all time great musical talent.
    Thanks for posting these videos Doug covering episodes in a long and productive life..

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    1. Doug's BlogJanuary 29, 2014 at 8:08 PM

      Thanks AA. And I appreciate all the folk music you've posted here and on Multiply, including those of Pete Seeger's television performances in England.

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  2. astranavigoJanuary 28, 2014 at 7:40 PM

    The man was the conscience of four generations, whether they wanted it or not.

    He said not long ago that "...if there's a world in a hundred years, it will be because it was saved by hundreds of little things." He was right about that - and so much more.

    He'll be missed.

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    1. Doug's BlogJanuary 29, 2014 at 8:24 PM

      That he will Astra. Pete Seeger was one of those rare artists who could speak and sing about mitigating society's conflicts, without cant or threats or boilerplate political slogans.

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    2. Bernard (ben) TremblayNovember 7, 2016 at 9:40 PM

      Sure do wish I could find his whole statement!
      About how music crosses over fences and barracades, to bring different sorts of different kinds of people together.
      In my professional experience that's the only authentic "get together", as alternative to the usual vaguely cult-driven group think.

      His first words open "Greenwich Village - Music That Defined a Generation"
      https://youtube.com/watch?v=02URSkxQX9Y

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  3. Lia StormJanuary 29, 2014 at 4:52 AM

    He was one of the good ones and he will be missed. Nice write up Doug :-)

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    1. Doug's BlogJanuary 29, 2014 at 8:28 PM

      Well put Lia. It's the good ones that seem too young to go away, no matter how old they are.

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  4. Forgetmenot525February 22, 2014 at 4:47 PM

    I saw this a couple of weeks ago and thought how sad, but he lives on in his music. I was amazed, and really saddened at the number of people who didn't known who he was but for those lucky ones among us who did know, he was the one who could make you really listen even when it was difficult to hear

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    1. Doug's BlogFebruary 24, 2014 at 2:33 PM

      I heartily agree Loretta. Pete Seeger did have a habit of being truthful even when it hurt.

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