Malvina was born at the turn of the century, and died in 1978. She was a prolific songwriter, best known as the author of such tunes as "Little Boxes," "God Bless the Grass," and "Turn Around." She first came to prominence through her songwriting talents in the '30's and '40's, when some of her compositions were performed by the Almanac Singers. Later, her songs were recorded by Pete Seeger, Judy Collins, Joan Baez, Marianne Faithfull, and Harry Belafonte.
Malvina's songs are topical, focusing on many aspects of society, from the frivolous to the deadly serious. She wrote tunes about such national issues as highway encroachment ("Cement Octopus"), as well as social matters such as the People's Park battle in her home town of Berkeley ("Boraxo") and British children who hung on branches to stop construction men from cutting the trees down ("The Lambeth Children O") Her one song to appear on the charts (in 1964) was the ironic "Little Boxes" a poke at stifling conformity in a suburban tract [What about "Turn Around?]. Another important composition from the early '60's, the anti-nuclear "What Have They done to the Rain?" became a favorite with performers such as Bob Dylan and Joan Baez.
Malvina Reynolds once said, "After Woody Guthrie, I think I was one of the first who was primarily interested in writing songs based on labor and the folk tradition, songs with a social content. I write topical songs because I think they are necessary."
Her awareness of injustice was partly based on personal experience. In 1916, when she was ready to graduate from high school, Malvina was informed by one of her teachers that the school administration planned to interrupt the graduation ceremony, and perhaps deprive her of a diploma, on the grounds that her father was engaged in radical political activities. Malvina chose to stay home, and never graduated. Nonetheless, she went on to earn a Ph.D. in literature from the University of California. She wrote her doctoral thesis on a medieval folk tale, and went into teachig full-time. By the late '30's, however, Malvina began to write her traditionally-styled songs, and she became one of folk music's most inspirational songwriters.

Source: Artists of American Folk Music, by Phil Hood (GPI Publications, 1986)

I sure wish somebody would reissue Malvina's recordings on CD - although I admit that she didn't have much of a voice. She had a big heart, though, and she wrote great songs....and I got a Malvina songbook $1.50, and another for $6.95!
-Joe Offer, bargain hunter-