I can't believe that Ed Silberman has died today. I thought he'd live forever. So intelligent (in a warped sort of way), so imaginative, and so damn funny. He had an amazing bass voice (I don't think I knew anyone who could hit the low notes better), and an amazing knowledge of songs. And such a quirky sense of humor. He had a penchant for wearing sparkly gowns for the New Year's celebration at Camp Harmony. But for New Year's Day in 2000, he wore a diaper and a beauty queen sash (and that's all - for the rest of my life, I cannot unsee that). He brought so much life to the San Francisco Folk Music Club. Damn, Ed, I'm gonna miss you.
I don't know how old Ed was, but it always seemed he was younger than me. I suppose most people thought of him as a clown, but I often had fascinating discussions with him on all sorts of subjects.
He was a pain in the ass, and I loved him. And I always felt so privileged to know that he loved me. I never knew why, but we had a bond. I think maybe it's because we knew that we both were excruciatingly and annoyingly honest. And we found a deep kinship in that.
-Joe-

Here's an example of Ed's singing, a parody he wrote about Hurricane Katrina: https://mudcat.org/download/BigMuddyKatrina.mp3

Ed's posts at Mudcat: Ed Silberman

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Thread #84688   Message #1565140
Posted By: GUEST,Ed Silberman
16-Sep-05 - 06:29 PM
Thread Name: Hurricane Relief Song: Big Muddy (MP3)
Subject: Lyr Add: THE DAMN FOOL TOOK THREE DAYS (Silberman/

I have written a new lyric for "Waist Deep in the Big Muddy" about the Bush administration's response to the Katrina disaster. It is called "The Damn Fool took Four Days". A CD recording is available from me, as well as an MP3 at Mudcat (see the entry "MP3 ADD The Damn Fool Took Three Days, September 15, Joe Offer" -above). I'm selling the CD for a suggested $5 donation to the American Red Cross. Please send checks to me at 6527 Whitney Street Oakland CA 94609. Likewise if you are going to download from this site please send a check to the relief agency of your choice when you do. You can use the download time to write out the check. Inquiries about the song can be made at damnfooltook@yahoo.com. The lyrics are printed below. I am gratefully appreciative to Pete Seeger for permission to use his song this way.


THE DAMN FOOL TOOK THREE DAYS
(lyrics by Ed Silberman, music by Pete Seeger)

Oh the wind was raging and the water was rising and the sky was dark and mean
And when the lake broke through the levee, such a sight I've never seen
People were crying, people were dying, people walking 'round in a haze
We were knee deep in the big muddy and the damn fool took four days

People were looting, people were rooting through the shelves for whatever they could find
If you had money you got out of town but the poor folk got left behind
In the land of plenty our stomachs were empty, we looked for a helping hand
We were waist deep in the big muddy and the damn fool took four days

Well I don't claim to know the answers, no I don't claim to have plan
But when a person has the title of Chief you're relying on that man
My house was a ruin, my neighbors were dead, I thought help was on the way
We were neck in the big muddy and the damn fool took four days

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