I remember the family had a record by Pete Seeger called "Dangerous Songs" (I think that was the title). I'm trying to remember, now, whether this story was in the liner notes.
My first thought, on reading the date was: "That's just a few years before Shakespeare was born!" And that event was very likely in the living memory of many in his audiences.
Oh, to be an artist in turbulent times! Rich food for your muse, but rough on the nerves...