The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #581   Message #1588
Posted By: Joe Offer
23-Jan-97 - 04:13 AM
Thread Name: Origins:Deportees-seeking original Woody recording
Subject: Deportee - looking for background information
I think it was January, 1948, that a plane crashed in the beautiful green hills of Los Gatos Canyon, about 10 miles from Coalinga, California. The plane carried workers who were being deported to Mexico. The crash killed everyone aboard. Woody Guthrie read a New York Times article about the crash, and wrote "Deportees." As I understand it, Woody chanted the lyrics to no particular tune; and then a tune was written by a schoolteacher in the 1960's. I wonder if anybody knows where I can get a recording of Woody chanting the original version. Any ideas?

Joe Offer


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