Songs of Freedom Summer
“Those Three Are On My Mind” was one of several songs born out of the tragic killings in Neshoba County, Mississippi in the summer of 1964. It’s hard for me to say whether it’s the best known, but was the … Continue reading →
Folksinger’s field report: August 5, 1964
Pete’s Seeger’s musical memoir, The Incompleat Folk Singer, includes the following entry for August 5, 1964. I hope he’ll pardon me for quoting it in its entirety, but I think it informs our conversation here about music, tragedy, and political … Continue reading →
Those Three Are On My Mind
“Southern Justice (Murder in Mississippi)” by Norman Rockwell Freedom Summer Next week, June 21st to be exact, will mark the 48th anniversary of the day that civil rights activists Michael Schwerner, James Chaney, and Andrew Goodman were murdered in Mississippi, … Continue reading →
A girl could feel special
“Red Hair and Black Leather” One of the things that Pat explored with “Matty Groves” is how such a brutal song managed to endure as a folk favorite down through the ages, partly through it’s ability to provide a compelling … Continue reading →
He smiled to see her cry
Richard Thompson. Esq., OBE A Songwriter’s Songwriter You’ll likely note that I’ve been reluctant to dive too deeply into a close reading or textual analysis of RT’s four-verse wonder (I’m still a little intrigued that in the video I linked … Continue reading →
Down to Knoxville?
Red Molly and Tenbrooks So, how does a late 20th century English-style ballad about death and motorcycles become the 2002 International Bluegrass Music Association Song of the Year? This is how. Dick Bowden, a friend of Del McCoury and his … Continue reading →
1952 Vincent Black Lightning
The Making of a Modern Classic Like Steve Earle said about picking which song to start with on his tribute album to Townes Van Zandt, you’ve got to start by fighting the biggest con on the cell block to make … Continue reading →
I wish the wars were all over…
Before the Battle aka Lady Affixing a Pennant to a Knight’s Spear – Elizabeth Eleanor Siddal, 1858 We started this week on Memorial Day with a great ballad from the Civil War that works in some ways like a murder … Continue reading →
CRAIG BICKHARDT: Live at Sellersville Theater
CRAIG BICKHARDT Live At Sellersville Theater Stone Barn 1006 www.craigbickhardt.com Every time I present Philadelphia-based master songwriter Craig Bickhardt, I introduce him by pondering how it happened that hit songwriters including Janis Ian, POCO, … Continue reading →
Postlude: Remembering Doc
Arthel Lane “Doc” Watson (March 3, 1923 – May 29, 2012) If there are patron saints for this blog, Doc Watson is one of them, at least for me. With apologies to my dad, who was the acoustic guitar player with … Continue reading →