Pete Seeger songs

Subject: Pete Seeger song
From: Steve Latimer
Date: 29 Feb 00 - 10:55 AM

Okay here's where I confess. I could never understand what all the fuss was over Pete Seeger, I found anything I had heard by him to be pretty plain. I was listening to a folk show a couple of weeks ago and heard a great song by him, the only thing I remember about it though is that he was from Carolina and going to Virginia or vice versa. It was a hard driving song with wonderful banjo playing.

Can anyone help with the title and album?

Thanks in advance.

Steve

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Pete Seeger song
From: Mike Regenstreif
Date: 29 Feb 00 - 11:03 AM

That would be "East Virginia Blues." Pete has probably recorded it more than once. One CD that has it is "Darling Corey & Goofing Off Suite," on Smithsonian Folkways. It combines two of Pete's 10" LPs from the 1950s.

Mike Regenstreif

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Pete Seeger song
From: Steve Latimer
Date: 29 Feb 00 - 11:28 AM

Thanks Mike, I'll have to pick it up.

Steve

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Pete Seeger song
From: kendall
Date: 29 Feb 00 - 11:52 AM

What do Zen and Pete Seeger have in common? if you need to have them explained, you will never understand

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Pete Seeger song
From: Amos
Date: 29 Feb 00 - 12:42 PM

Kinda like the price of the Roseway, hey, Kendall?

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Pete Seeger song
From: Wavestar
Date: 29 Feb 00 - 08:40 PM

I saw Pete Seeger at 80-odd splitting wood with a maul and sledge... I can't explain it, but there is so much to that man. He's remarkable. plus, of course, there's the great voice, musical talents, and sense of humour...

He's not so much more than so many other talented people, but that he came along at a right time, and stuck with it for so long.

I don't know... I respect him. -Jessica

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Pete Seeger song
From: kendall
Date: 29 Feb 00 - 08:56 PM

I've had the pleasure of spending some time with this man, including an evening with him and Gordon Bok. They are both very unusual spirits, and they have certainly made my life richer from having met them. Pete showed me how to frail the banjo back in 1969. I have few heros, but, they are in that category.

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Pete Seeger song
From: Sourdough
Date: 29 Feb 00 - 10:49 PM

I think something that makes Pete Seeger special is tha the has a vision of what is right and wrong but unlike many who claim to know the difference, his vision is filled with acceptance and with love. However, he has a steel backbone and seems to have found joy in standing up for and living up as best he can to his ideals.

Sourdough

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Pete Seeger song
From: Cap't Bob
Date: 29 Feb 00 - 10:59 PM

If you want to get a bit of a handle on what makes Pete Seeger tick read his book "The Incomplete Folksinger".

Cap't Bob

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Pete Seeger song
From: Midchuck
Date: 29 Feb 00 - 11:13 PM

Pete Seeger splitting wood at 80+ is impressive, but Doc Watson doing so is more so to me, even though he's considerable younger.

Peter.

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Pete Seeger song
From: Chris/Darwin
Date: 29 Feb 00 - 11:18 PM

I saw Pete just once, in Melbourne, about 1967. He stood alone on stage in front of about 3000 people, with just his 12-string and 5-string, and enthralled everyone for 2 hours.

The thing that shone through for me was the utter honesty of the man and his music.

Americans should be proud that they have such ambassadors, including others like Dan Crary, Byron Berline, Kristina Olsen, etc etc.

Regards
Chris

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Pete Seeger song
From: GUEST,Guest-Meadow Muskrat
Date: 29 Feb 00 - 11:44 PM

If you want to hear a recording of East Virginia Blues and a lot of other traditional songs go to Roger Mc Guinn's Folk Den Archive. http://metalab.unc.edu/jimmy/folkden/songs.html

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Pete Seeger song
From: Joe Offer
Date: 01 Mar 00 - 03:31 AM

Hey, there's even a video of Mudcatter Frank Hamilton at that site Meadow Muskrat linked to!
-Joe Offer-

Subject: DTADD: Tomorrow Is a Highway (Seeger/Hays)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 13 Oct 03 - 08:13 PM

Somebody brought this to our song circle the other night. Nice song.

TOMORROW IS A HIGHWAY
(Lee Hays and Pete Seeger)

Tomorrow is a highway broad and fair,
And we are the many who'll travel there.
Tomorrow is a highway broad and fair,
And we are the workers who'll build it there;
And we will build it there.

Come, let us build a way for all mankind,
A way to leave this evil year behind,
To travel onward to a better year
Where love is, and there will be no fear,
Where love is and no fear.

Now is the shadowed year when evil men,
When men of evil thunder war again.
Shall tyrants once again be free to tread,
Above our most brave and honored dead?
Our brave and honored dead.

O, comrades, come and travel on with me,
We'll go to our new year of liberty.
Come, walk upright, along the people's way,
From darkness, unto the people's day.
From dark, to sunlit day.

Tomorrow is a highway broad and fair
And hate and greed shall never travel there
But only they who've learned the peaceful way
Of brotherhood, to greet the coming day.
We hail the coming day.

Words by Lee Hays Music by Pete Seeger (1949)
TRO - (c) 1950 (renewed) Folkways Music Publishers Inc. New York, NY

from The Collected Reprints from Sing Out! Vol 1-6 (the pink volume)
The Sing Out! book suggests this might be a "song for the new year and a new day." -Joe Offer-

---

Click to play

Subject: RE: Pete Seeger songs
From: akenaton
Date: 13 Oct 03 - 08:30 PM

Joe...That fine song is on a 1961 Folkways album "Songs by Pete Seeger" Gazette vol 2.
Its a lovely record and i'v almost worn it out over the years .
    All the best ...Ake

Subject: RE: Pete Seeger songs
From: Joe Offer
Date: 13 Oct 03 - 08:54 PM

Hi, Ake - It's also on Pete's Folkways compilation, If I Had a Hammer: Songs of Hope & Struggle. I think I'm going to have to get that CD. It's also on the tribute album called Seeds: the Songs of Pete Seeger, Vol. 3. I have volumes 1 and 2, so I guess I'm required to buy 3.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Pete Seeger songs
From: Amos
Date: 13 Oct 03 - 10:44 PM

That video of Frank Hamilton is still there, and he plays in it as well as he did back when it was filmed!!

A

Subject: RE: Pete Seeger songs
From: Phil Cooper
Date: 13 Oct 03 - 10:58 PM

East Virginia was also on Pete's columbia LP Waist Deep in the Big Muddy and Other Love songs.

Subject: RE: Pete Seeger songs
From: Little Robyn
Date: 14 Oct 03 - 04:16 AM

But it's on Vol 3 of the Seeds tribute albums and you can buy it today! We played it on our radio show last Sunday. In fact we played 11 other tracks as well - we did a 'Pete Seeger special' on 'Folk on Sunday'. Sadly, only people living on the east coast of the North Island of New Zealand would have heard it.
Robyn

Subject: RE: Pete Seeger songs
From: GUEST,Jamie Fine
Date: 25 Mar 04 - 07:19 PM

Help! Does anyone have the chords for Tororrow is a Highway? I want to sing/teach it at the memorial service for Fred Fine, a longtime activist, folk music (and rock) promoter who brought Pete and the Weavers as well as Joan Baez, Judy Collins,Theo Bilkel etc etc to Chicago audiences in the 1960-80s under the banner of Triangle Productions. I'm his daughter-in-law. Anyway, I need the chords to send of to the person who will play guitar with me.
Thanks
[e-mail]

Subject: RE: Pete Seeger songs
From: GUEST,maxx
Date: 10 Mar 05 - 01:16 PM

Hello..........

I am looking for good Pete seeger tabs. One song in paticular I would love to learn is Degandanken Zen fry or something like that...That is by no means the correct spelling but if you sound it to it should sound right. The song is from "Dangerous Songs!?". I would appreciate it....Thank you.

Subject: RE: Pete Seeger songs
From: Ernest
Date: 10 Mar 05 - 01:39 PM

Hi maxx,
the title is "Die Gedanken sind frei", it is a German folksong you will find on the www.
Regards
Ernest

Subject: RE: Pete Seeger songs
From: andymac
Date: 10 Mar 05 - 05:47 PM

"I could never understand what all the fuss was over Pete Seeger"... Steve, I think if you look back over this thread, you'll maybe begin to understand what "all the fuss" is over Pete Seeger. I've never had the privilaege of seeing him perfomr, and guess i won't now, but he's still one of my heroes for his integrity, his courage, his commitment and above all for his songs and the singing of them.

Andymac

Subject: RE: Pete Seeger songs
From: Uncle_DaveO
Date: 11 Mar 05 - 10:30 AM

To my mind (YMMV), aside from his clear honesty and benevolence, the best part of Pete Seeger is as a performer.

Too often (to my mind) when he writes songs he gets too self-consciously serious, and lets his evident good intentions rule the creation of the song. As an example of such a song, If I Had a Golden Thread, which I regard as a downright BAD song. I believe that there, and in some other songs, he's in effect sold his birthright for a pot of message (to paraphrase scripture).

In any case, Pete Seeger is a Great Man (note caps).

Dave Oesterreich

Subject: RE: Pete Seeger songs
From: GUEST,Nephew Johnny
Date: 11 Mar 05 - 11:44 AM

Hey Uncle Dave,

I presume you're talking about "Oh, Had I a Golden Thread."

I'm just wondering *why* you think it's such a bad song? And if it's such a bad song, could you explain who so many artists have recorded it. Just to mention a few: Leon & Eric Bibb, Joan Baez, Judy Collins, Dar Williams & Toshi Reagon, Eva Cassidy, and Peter, Paul & Mary.

Nephew Johnny

Subject: RE: Pete Seeger songs
From: Uncle_DaveO
Date: 11 Mar 05 - 12:02 PM

To begin with, its compulsive well-meaning earnestness, with unmeaningful and inappropriate metaphors. And then the tune is highly uninspiring.

The tune, too, in my opinion leaves much to be desired. A vast ho-hum

And as to why a number of people have sung it? Three reasons come immediately to mind:
1. The attraction of a song with the name Pete Seeger on it.
2. The desire to be seen as earnest and well-meaning.
3. No taste.

Dave Oesterreich

Subject: RE: Pete Seeger songs
From: Uncle_DaveO
Date: 11 Mar 05 - 12:04 PM

Sorry, I see I listed the tune's ho-hum-ness twice.

Dave Oesterreich

Subject: RE: Pete Seeger songs
From: Tannywheeler
Date: 11 Mar 05 - 02:00 PM

Pete has proven to be the best part of our backbone - what it means to be an American through thick and thin. He is musical, warm, kind, reasonable, full of laughter. All the best of what we might want to be. A good example to emulate on a number of levels.

So he was part of my childhood, respected and loved by the important standard-creators in my life. As the twig is bent....   And the happy personal memories help that tree growth.

Musically, socially, politically he has taught us many terrific lessons -- most important, to love life and live it to the hilt more than one way at a time.                        Tw

Subject: RE: Pete Seeger songs
From: GUEST,folkiefrank
Date: 11 Mar 05 - 09:45 PM

I notice nobody has mentioned that his career was blighted by the McCatharthyism, thanks to good ol' Burl Ives, everybody's favourite Uncle!

Subject: RE: Pete Seeger songs
From: Pauline L
Date: 12 Mar 05 - 12:06 AM

Folkiefrank, I'm familiar with the McCarthyites actions re Seeger, but I'm not aware of Burl Ive's connection. What did he do?

I have heard Pete sing several times, and I agree that he's a great performer. I've heard him play in concert with Arlo, and when Arlo did his solos, Pete laid back on the stage floor and looked at him with wonder and admiration. One time I got to go backstage after the concert and speak to him. (I was with someone who had connections.) I was impressed with how humble he was and how eager to learn from his audience. One woman mentioned a song to him that he didn't know, and he asked her to send him a recording of it. It was the first time that I realized that a performer feeds off of his audience, just as the audience feeds off of the performer.

Pete is seriously dedicated to a number of causes, including environmentalism. I used to work for the FDA, and a friend there showed me a letter Pete had written. When the FDA or any other federal agency plans to promulgate a regulation, they are required to publish a proposal and solicit comments. Most of the commenters are industry reps or consumer advocates. Pete sent in a short letter, saying something like, "PCBs are so bad for the environment that I think they should be banned completely." The letter was written on a typewriter, not a computer. The letterhead said simply "Pete and Toshi Seeger" and gave their address. I especially liked the way Pete signed the letter. He wrote his name and drew a little sketch of a banjo. He is a genuine article.

Subject: RE: Pete Seeger songs
From: GUEST,maxx
Date: 26 Mar 05 - 03:28 PM

FOUND IT!!!!



thank you

Subject: RE: Pete Seeger songs
From: kendall
Date: 26 Mar 05 - 04:58 PM

Pete always signs his name like that.

Subject: RE: Pete Seeger songs
From: GUEST
Date: 19 Dec 09 - 04:23 PM

Pete splitting wood at "90"

Subject: RE: Pete Seeger songs
From: GUEST,banjopicker
Date: 28 Nov 11 - 02:28 PM

From my understanding I may be wrong and feel free to correct me but Burl Ives was a friend of petes and the other people in the almanac and peoples songs house. Well most of them didnt name names when it came to the un American activities committee came up well there was one man WHO did NAME NAMES and that was Burl Ives. Like I said if I'm wrong please correct me

Subject: RE: Pete Seeger songs
From: Dave Hanson
Date: 28 Nov 11 - 02:46 PM

You are not wrong.

Dave H

Subject: RE: Pete Seeger songs
From: Elmore
Date: 28 Nov 11 - 04:47 PM

My understanding was, that at some point, Pete forgave Ives, and they actually sang together at least once afterward.

Subject: RE: Pete Seeger songs
From: Ref
Date: 28 Nov 11 - 05:22 PM

I wasn't present, but I read that both wound up on the program at a "reunion" performance, and there was concern about the history between them. Seeger performed first and Ives somewhat later. Ives was doing a song seated on a stool on stage when Seeger walked out behind him, strumming his banjo, and kissed Ives on top of his bald head.

Subject: RE: Pete Seeger songs
From: GUEST,banjopicker
Date: 28 Nov 11 - 05:40 PM

I personally don't think I could forgive him IF I was in that boat but Pete is a bigger person than I am.

Subject: RE: Pete Seeger songs
From: GUEST,SirCoughsalot
Date: 28 Nov 11 - 06:36 PM

It was the Dubliners who introduced me to folk music, but it was Pete Seeger who convinced me that I could start singing it myself and inspired me to stick with it. He is the reason I took up the 5-string banjo, and also the reason I started getting involved in causes and taking an interest in current events. But apart from that, he is simply good. He is a good singer and a good player and I like his music. He isn't perfect or a saint, and you only have to watch Rainbow Quest to realize that he could be awkward or bashful at times. But he is a talented, humble, good-hearted, encouraging fellow. I still hope I get to meet him or correspond with him some day.

Subject: RE: Pete Seeger songs
From: GUEST,Dr Jack
Date: 07 Jun 13 - 06:20 AM

Pete's Schenectady concert with Peggy 12 May (yes, I was the one who travelled furthest to be there) should be remembered as a milestone, just after his 94th birthday- and was he on form! An audience of 1500 sang every word with him- in harmonies, just as you'd would have expected 50 years ago. Lots of young folks too; clearly his appeal still goes far wider than nostalgic left wing oldies. Why else would Turn Turn Turn be full on in everyone's consciousness? He sang, or rather led it at the concert, surprising everyone with 5 more verses written by Toshi 50 years ago! I share them with you:

A time for work a time for play
A time of night a time of day
A time to sleep a time to wake
A time for candles a time for cake (Cho.)

A time to dress a time to eat
A time to sit and rest your feet
A time to teach a time to learn
A time for all to take their turn (Cho.)

A time to cry and make a fuss
A time to leave and catch the bus
A time for quiet a time to talk
A time to run a time to walk (Cho.)

A time to get a time to give
A time to remember a time to forgive
A time to hug a time to kiss
A time to close your eyes and wish (Cho.)

A time for dirt a time for soap
A time for tears a time for hope
A time of fall a time of spring
A time to hear the robins sing (Cho.)

Finally, a song to celebrate his life and work at Youtube
Troubador - Pete Seeger

Jack Warshaw

Subject: RE: Pete Seeger songs
From: EBarnacle
Date: 07 Jun 13 - 09:50 AM

Pete will be at the Clearwater Revival next weekend at Croton Point park in Westchester,NY. You can get there easily by car or train [recommended]. To see the performer list, go to www.Clearwater.org Oh, yeah, I'll be leading the sea song set on Saturday as well as singing with Pete on Sunday afternoon.

Subject: RE: Pete Seeger songs
From: Elmore
Date: 07 Jun 13 - 10:39 AM

Saw Pete in his prime many times. I have been privileged to see many famous performers in a variety of musical genres, but Pete was the most exciting, the most dynamic, the most endearing, by a long shot.

Subject: RE: Pete Seeger songs
From: The Sandman
Date: 07 Jun 13 - 12:55 PM

Seeger is a great man

Subject: ADD: Wonderful Friends (Seeger & Wyatt)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 02 Jan 18 - 01:54 AM

Somebody sang this song at San Francisco's Camp New Harmony, and I was asked to post it on Mudcat. It's a great song, written by Pete Seeger and Lorre Wyatt and first recorded on Pete's At 89 album, released in 2008.

WONDERFUL FRIENDS
(Pete Seeger & Lorre Wyatt)

[Chorus:]
When I think of the ways that I've grown
I know I couldn't a' made it alone
I owe a lot to the sharing, caring, daring
Wonderful friends that I've known.
I owe a lot to the sharing, caring, daring
Wonderful friends that I've known

Here we are all in one place, all gathered together,
We've helped each other down this road whatever the weather.
We have no need for pots of gold, for friends are a treasure.
So hold hands, and sing it again

[Chorus]

Many years ago when I was feeling discouraged
I found that singing with my friends would fill me with courage
It's a rough and rocky road we're on, so when we get worried
With old friends, we'll sing it again

[Chorus]

It looks like we might sing all night, but looks are deceiving
That old clock upon the wall says, soon I've got to be leaving
And though we go our separate ways, there's no need for grieving
Just hold hands, and sing it again

[Chorus 2x]

Source: http://www.metrolyrics.com/wonderful-friends-lyrics-pete-seeger-lorre-wyatt.html


From the At 89 album (2008) by Pete Seeger: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VuPxRr2Pnmo


This song is a real gem. These lyrics are an exact transcription of Seeger's recording on the At 89 album.

---

The lyrics were revised for the A More Perfect Union album by Pete Seeger and Lorre Wyatt.

WONDERFUL FRIENDS
(Pete Seeger & Lorre Wyatt)

[Chorus:]
Oh, when I think of the ways that I've grown
I know I couldn't have made it alone
I owe a lot to the sharing, caring, daring,
Wonderful friends that I've known.
I owe a lot to the sharing, caring, daring,
Wonderful friends that I've known.

Here we are, beloved friends, all gathered together,
We've helped each other down this road whatever the weather;
We have no need for pots of gold, for friends are a treasure,
So join in, and sing it again:

[Chorus]

Many years ago, when I was feeling discouraged,
I found that singing with my friends would fill me with courage;
It's a rough and rocky road we're on, so when we get worried,
We'll join in, and sing it again:

[Chorus]

It looks like we might sing all night, ah, but looks are deceiving;
That old clock upon the wall says, soon I've got to be leaving.
And though we go our separate ways, there is no need for grieving,
So join in, and sing it again:

[Chorus 2x]

Source: http://www.metrolyrics.com/wonderful-friends-lyrics-pete-seeger-lorre-wyatt.html

From the More Perfect Union album (2012) by Pete Seeger & Lorre Wyatt: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gPvWD8V_9Xg

Subject: RE: Pete Seeger songs
From: MisterMoccasin
Date: 04 Jan 18 - 03:19 PM

That's a really nice song! Thanks for posting it!

Subject: ADD: Sailing Up, Sailing Down (Lorre Wyatt)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 21 Aug 18 - 04:36 PM

Somebody sent me a link to a recording of Baby, Whatcha Want Me to Do?, and I realized it's the tune used for "Sailing Up/Down" (written by Lorre Wyatt but closely identified with Seeger)- and then I realized that the Up/Down song hadn't been posted here.

SAILING UP, SAILING DOWN
(Lorre Wyatt)

Sailing up (sailing up), sailing down (sailing down)
Up (down), down (up!) - up and down the river
Sailing on - stopping all along the way
The river may be dirty now but it's getting cleaner every day

People come (people come), people go (people go)
Come (go), go (come) - up and down the river
Sailing on - stopping all along the way
The river may be dirty now but it's getting cleaner every day

Garbage here (garbage here), garbage there (garbage there)
Here (there), there (here) - up and down the river
Sailing on - stopping all along the way
The river may be dirty now but it's getting cleaner every day

Catching fish (catching fish), catching hell (catching hell)
Hell (fish), fish (hell!) - up and down the river
Sailing on - stopping all along the way
The river may be dirty now but it's getting cleaner every day

People come (people come), people go (people go)
Come (go), go (come) - up and down the river
Sailing on - stopping all along the way
The river may be dirty now but it's getting cleaner every day

Singing here (singing here), singing there (singing there)
Here (there), there (here) - up and down the river
Sailing on - stopping all along the way
The river may be dirty now but it's getting cleaner every day

Some are young (some are young), some are old (some are old)
Young (old), old (young) - up and down the river
Sailing on - stopping all along the way
The river may be dirty now but it's getting cleaner every day

Thread on Baby, What You Want Me to Do? (click)

Subject: RE: Pete Seeger songs
From: Felipa
Date: 03 May 21 - 03:59 PM

refreshing on the anniversary of Pete Seeger's birthday