[when we sing another little victory song]
In the 80s, Arlo Guthrie and Pete Seeger toured together for a while, and released an album as a result of that tour, an album called Precious Friend. We had it in a double-cassette set when I was a kid and listened to it over and over again in the car, and when I was in college my mom bought it for me on CD. No matter how many times I listen to it, that show still gives me goosebumps, still moves me in ways that remind me why we listen to music, you know? redwillet and I were out taking pictures yesterday, and I had it on in the background; after I dropped N. off I turned it up, and I was driving down 54 and Arlo Guthrie started singing "Will The Circle Be Unbroken" and I made this great heaving noise that I generally reserve for when ESPN surprises me with Jim Valvano's "Don't Ever Give Up" ESPY speech early in college basketball season, and I started crying so hard out of joy, out of hope for this country, that I had to pull into a gas station until I could get myself together enough to see and drive home.
Then I came home and watched Bruce Springsteen and Pete Seeger lead 500,000 people and the man who will be our President in just a few hours in singing "This Land Is Your Land", even the angry populist union worker verses that nobody ever sings, and I cried a lot more.
And then I uploaded music, because that is what I do, when I am hopeful and joyous and looking forward in life:[Pete Seeger & Arlo Guthrie -- "Precious Friend You Will Be There"] just when i thought all was lost you changed my mind/you gave me hope, not just the old soft soap/you showed that we could learn to share in time/you and me and rockefeller/i'll keep plugging on/your face will shine through all our tears/and when we sing another little victory song/precious friend, you will be there
[Arlo Guthrie -- "Will The Circle Be Unbroken"] I don't know why this song gives me goosebumps but it does.
[Pete Seeger -- "If I Had A Hammer"] Pete wrote this song with Lee Hays in 1949. Lee was an amazing songwriter, progressive political thinker, supporter of the unions -- you can read about him here, and it's worth reading. I am broken-hearted that Lee Hays didn't live to see this day. I am beyond ecstatic that Pete did.
[Pete Seeger & Company -- "This Land Is Your Land"] Live at the Newport Folk Festival.
I know there are people in the country who aren't happy about this -- there are people who read my journal who aren't happy about this inauguration -- but I am unreservedly joyous and hopeful today, and if you post anything in the comments that I could in any way remotely conceive as pissing in my Cheerios today, I will ban you. Permanently. So if you have an opinion that is something other than hope today, you should take it elsewhere.
Because today, for me, is all about joy because I am so overwhelmed that my country could be this amazing. Could amaze me like this.
Then I came home and watched Bruce Springsteen and Pete Seeger lead 500,000 people and the man who will be our President in just a few hours in singing "This Land Is Your Land", even the angry populist union worker verses that nobody ever sings, and I cried a lot more.
And then I uploaded music, because that is what I do, when I am hopeful and joyous and looking forward in life:[Pete Seeger & Arlo Guthrie -- "Precious Friend You Will Be There"] just when i thought all was lost you changed my mind/you gave me hope, not just the old soft soap/you showed that we could learn to share in time/you and me and rockefeller/i'll keep plugging on/your face will shine through all our tears/and when we sing another little victory song/precious friend, you will be there
[Arlo Guthrie -- "Will The Circle Be Unbroken"] I don't know why this song gives me goosebumps but it does.
[Pete Seeger -- "If I Had A Hammer"] Pete wrote this song with Lee Hays in 1949. Lee was an amazing songwriter, progressive political thinker, supporter of the unions -- you can read about him here, and it's worth reading. I am broken-hearted that Lee Hays didn't live to see this day. I am beyond ecstatic that Pete did.
[Pete Seeger & Company -- "This Land Is Your Land"] Live at the Newport Folk Festival.
I know there are people in the country who aren't happy about this -- there are people who read my journal who aren't happy about this inauguration -- but I am unreservedly joyous and hopeful today, and if you post anything in the comments that I could in any way remotely conceive as pissing in my Cheerios today, I will ban you. Permanently. So if you have an opinion that is something other than hope today, you should take it elsewhere.
Because today, for me, is all about joy because I am so overwhelmed that my country could be this amazing. Could amaze me like this.