I remember the year that Broadside Balladeer Took his own life away; so they say Now I still long to hear him singin' true and clear How I miss that Broadside Balladeer
Chorus: So I'm gonna say it now! I can't say it when I'm gone Let us not speak falsely now For we must be movin' on Is there anybody home? Is there anybody here?
To be true to a Broadside Balladeer In the dark of the night, he would stay awake and write At the rallies he would raise us with a song He would roam through the land, and like Woody he would stand Cause he wanted people's struggles to be strong
Chorus:
To be true to a Broadside Balladeer Just a boy in Ohio…grew up so he had to go Steppin' outside of a small circle of friends Surely as the Changes came, he would shame the Chords of Fame When he called on us to try and make amends
Chorus:
To be true to a Broadside Balladeer Seems like just the other day; He went down to see Chile Victor Jara and he sang side by side ITT, the CIA, and the Junta had their way But the dream they tried to kill still hasn't died
Chorus:
Notes: This song was originally included on 'Spring Garden' (Independent Cassette) released in 1983, more recently on CD 'Broadsides and Retrospectives' (Crazy Planet Records) released in 2005. RP jul07