Anne,

You are absolutely correct. I did mean to say that I wouldn't be too discouraged. Thanks for pointing that out.

Woody Guthrie, as you know from reading the Joe Klein and Ed Cray biographies, as well as from reading his own writing, listening to his songs, and speaking with people who knew him, was a very complex individual. In his tragicly short life, he managed to embrace and blend Eastern mysticism, American spiritualism, primitive Christianity, hokey Will Rogers style homespun philosophy, can-do New Deal pragmatism, Stalin era Communism, and early beatnik thought, seemingly without contradiction. Yet certain themes emerge very clearly. Above all, Woody was an optimist, not in the Pollyanna sense, but in his firm belief that people are fundamentally good, and that they can and will to come to their senses and work hard make this world a better place. He didn't write Don't Worry, Be Happy. That's not the superficial kind of optimist Woody was. But he did write There's a Better World Coming, a song which clearly and powerfully expresses the deeper and more fundamental optimism that was his.

Oh my gosh, once I get started on Woody, I can ramble on for hours. I should quit while I'm not yet putting you to sleep.

Everyone else, please take note. Anne Price and I will be presenting Woody Rediscovered, an exploration of Woody Guthrie's less known songs this coming September 30 for the Folklore Society of Greater Washington, and then again on December 17 for the New York Pinewoods Folk Music Club. This is an educational program, but don't fear! It's not all lecture. It's mostly songs, which we will be teaching as well as performing. We last presented Woody Rediscovered for People's Music Network in Amherst, MA, this past January, and it was very well attended and well received. So Anne and I hope to see you in the DC area on September 30 or in NYC on December 17. You can check those organizations' respective websites for details as the dates approach.

Meanwhile, please come to the Woody Guthrie Birthday Bash next Sunday, July 9, at 7:00 PM. The details are in the first message of this thread. For just $5, how wrong can you go?

--- Steve