On Monday I introduced the song The Fower Maries and shared some of the historical back story to this song. Today I want to introduce another version of the song that tells us more of the story. Indeed there is something … Continue reading →
Glimpses behind the veil of power and majesty are quite rare. All too often the ‘official’ version is the one that gets carried throughout the ages. However, every now and again, we come across something that shows us the humanity … Continue reading →
In our centennial celebration of Woody Guthrie’s murder ballads, we’ve seen that murder and death in his songs are tools to illustrate his fundamental concept of justice. Sometimes it’s personal, as with “The Philadelphia Lawyer” and “East Texas Red“. More … Continue reading →
So far in our week-long centennial celebration of Woody Guthrie and his murder ballads, we’ve listened to the classic and amusing “Philadelphia Lawyer” and two hard hitting ballads, “Ludlow Massacre” and “1913 Massacre”, which both tell different stories of the … Continue reading →
We started our centennial celebration week with Woody Guthrie by listening to his “Philadelphia Lawyer”, a classic Country and Western song that he set to the tune of an older murder ballad. But, despite (or more accurately because of) the … Continue reading →
Woody Guthrie would have been one hundred years old this Saturday, July 14, 2012. Certainly there will be a great deal of writing, speaking, and (as no doubt Woody would have wanted it) singing to celebrate his centennial. That’s as … Continue reading →
“By her lily white hand” (Banks of the Ohio) by Julyan Davis, 2012 (linked music by Doc and Merle Watson) In my summer travels, a recent visit to my sister brought mention of her neighbor’s art exhibition. Asheville-based Julyan Davis’s exhibition … Continue reading →
Robert Burns Imagine if you can a wild, stormy and seemingly endless winter’s night. You are child in a very small village on the west coast of Scotland. The year is 1754 and by the light of the fire in … Continue reading →
What I like most about “Frank’s Wild Years,” is what a clever little liar it is and how — like all clever little liars — its lies reveal so many larger truths. Truths not just about this couple, Frank … Continue reading →
Look into the eyes of this attractive and rather worried looking young woman. What sad story do you see? What tale of despair and dreams gone bad? What demons? What lost angels? What, you don’t see any of … Continue reading →
