Last night on BBC4 I watched documentary Folk America - which had details about the McCarthy era and how it impacted Pete Seeger among many other folk singers.

On the heels of seeing that documentary, this YouTube video had me weeping. Remembering the struggle those singers experienced. Exposing the inequity and singing about the social struggle is the foundation and frame upon which folk music is built.

I am an American now living and folking in the UK. In US schools when I was a child and teen in the late 60s through mid 70s we were taught the safe version of This Land. But never taught what any of it meant or why it came about. There was no link to the life of Woody Guthrie, the Dust Bowl, The Great Depression, Migrant Workers, no history to accompany this song. What a pity. I hope they are teaching it in the schools today. AND I hope they are teaching ALL of the verses.

Re For Pete's Sake - Sing! day. I will be at Rochester Sweeps in Kent, UK. I will try to remember to mention it in sessions there and perhaps sing This Land.


Thank you Eddie for starting this thread.

Tamara