Mr Elvis Costello This week’s post, indeed the 200th of this blog, comes mainly from Mr Elvis Costello and a song from his album Spike in 1989. The song, which will be revealed in a second, seeks to address a wrong, … Continue reading →
Unidentified girl in mourning dress holding framed photograph of her father as a cavalryman with sword and Hardee hat – tintype, ca. 1870, Library of Congress IntroductionEvery spring I teach a unit on the American Civil War, after which my colleagues and … Continue reading →
IntroductionAfter stepping into the 1970s with Helen Reddy’s “Angie Baby,” let’s stay there a while longer. We’re away from traditional territory for the moment, but we’ll get back soon enough. Alison did an excellent job in capturing the freaky mystery inside … Continue reading →
Introduction You live your life in the songs you hear On the rock and roll radio — Alan O’Day (“Angie Baby”) It’s hard to imagine that the 1974 pop hit “Angie Baby” tops anyone’s list of “best murder ballads”, if … Continue reading →
John Lennon IntroductionIf you had asked me two days ago where I was when I learned that John Lennon was shot, I would have said, “watching Monday Night Football, like everybody else.” Now that I’ve gone back and reviewed TV … Continue reading →
Fred Hampton (1948-1969) I have to start with a disclaimer. The songwriter of today’s song is my fellow blogger, Pat Blackman, who has been my good friend for over twenty years. So, there’s not much critical distance here from the … Continue reading →
Boxer Davey Moore, immediately after the March 21, 1963 fight with Sugar Ramos, beforecollapsing into a coma and dying 75 hours later. “I did not want to hurt Moore. In the ring the fighters are partners. They put on the … Continue reading →
Marilyn Monroe (Norma Jeane Mortenson) Pete Seeger opens Chapter 11 “Money and Music” in his book The Incompleat Folksinger (Bison Book, 1972) with this reflection. Who Killed Norma Jean? I once had a vision of a beast with hollow fangs. … Continue reading →
“I, said the Sparrow, with my bow and arrow” Introduction There are at least two things I’m not going to do in today’s post. There are at least two things I am going to do. The first thing I am … Continue reading →
This is Chapter 5 of Stagolee: A Digital Compendium. See also Chapter 1, Chapter 2, Chapter 3, and Chapter 4. Introduction The original idea for this post was to look at Stagolee in the 21st century, to see what’s happened to this … Continue reading →
