Here's the BBC news today: Pete Seeger dies at the age of 94.
Pete was a musician, poet and social commentator of his time ...
an active pacifist and protester.
an active pacifist and protester.
He was indicted for 'Un-American Activities' in the McCarthy considerations.
(For 'considerations' read 'repressive trials'.)
(For 'considerations' read 'repressive trials'.)
What did he do wrong?
Nothing!
Nothing!
He wrote and performed with integrity about things in which he believed.
He crafted songs of contemporary importance ... those songs we all remember.
He said and sang his piece (peace.)
We still sing his songs.
Those songs live on.
He said and sang his piece (peace.)
We still sing his songs.
Those songs live on.
We can forgive him for being a banjo player!
RIP.
When will they/we ever learn?
When will they/we ever learn?
5 comments:
Never did like him. Not my cup of tea. I suppose "Puff The Magic Dragon" was OK for the children if they want to smoke dope. "Where have all the flowers gone?" far too subtle. Lived a good long life himself so... please.... ! BTW he didn't rate me either.
Are you intentionally sowing seeds of confusion here?
Puff the MD was co-written by Pete Yarrow, (of Peter, Paul & Mary,)and Leonard Lipton ... nothing to do with the late Mr Seeger.
Oh perhaps he played it then? Always thought he had something to do with it! I wasn't encouraged to support anything remotely communist in the 1950's - whether that was entirely sensible or not. Parental control was then in full force. The thought police, Big Brother & all that. Pete Seeger was not well received by the McCarthyites for his stand on many political issues and there were those at the time who did not agree with music being used in this way. If you don't remember this it's because you're so young. Be grateful! "An opportunist trouble maker" I was told.
To be "... not well well received," is a compliment to some individuals who bravely challenge the establishment.
Mr Seeger may have been perceived as 'an opportunist 'trouble-maker' in his own land.
He was an advocate for peace.
Music is music.
Songs are songs.
Peace is good.
May we know it.
Making a stand for peace is easy. It's making a stand for war that takes real courage. Ask Winston, he knew.
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