In the early 1960's this strong TUG to head west was most assuradly alive and kicking in this old folkie. Was it the history of Westering rampant in the USA for 2 centuries? Was it Woody Guthrie's influence? Was it John Steinbeck? Was it Jack Kerouac? Was it the Santa Fe and Oregon trails? Was it the Mormon trek? Was it gold discovered that pulled so many so very far?

For me, in 1962 it wa ALL OF THE ABOVE!!! What an adventure it was---and has been.

Now, in a time when we hop a plane so much easier than a freight, a time when THE HOBO TIMES (a fine publication of wanderlust---(put 'em in a search engine)just, in Jan. 99, had to cease publication because modern skinhead children hoboes have been MURDERING the remnants of the real hobo mystique out on the shiny irons. Even East Texas Red would be terrified! No, there is not much left of the WESTERING spirit or even desire. At least, that's how it looks to me. WHAT ARE THE THOUGHTS OF OTHERS???

Seems to me there's no way one can feel the romance of the open road---the love of/for the land (completely different from blind patriotism for the flag & country) by flying thousands of feet in the air and detatching ones self from the historical landscape---from the people. That's how my love for traditional music---the story songs from history---was first nurtured and did blossom. No way can the modern crop of singer/songwriters singing about urban high-rise existance ever be expected to know what the man in "GOING TO THE WEST was feeling when that tactor-beam locked onto him! (I grew up in an urban high-rise in Chicago so I know, like Laphraoig sctch, it's an acquired taste.)

Get out there on the road and find the land and the places where the songs came from. None of it can even be glimpsed flying over it. But retracing the pioneer steps is one way to enhance ones credibility when the desire is truly there to sing the old songs. It takes more time, yes it does. But a marriage takes more time than havin' one-night-stands or even a succession of relationships. But allow me to tell you, ('cause I will anyhow) that the tough time is where the adventure of it comes in. That's where the glory of it comes into the picture. The coal is turned into diamonds.

Do not be afraid to sweep the scum of the present off the top of the pond so you can look more easily down through the depths of history! You've got to get to the roots to benefit from the nutrients therein.

I was lucky enough to have the WESTERING thing still be alive in me. I was lucky enough to have my wife of 3 months go with me to settle on the coast of Oregon and to help me start THE FOLK-ART SHOP back in '67. We went broke there and moved on. And we're still on that road less travelled. "And that HAS made all the difference!"

Love to you all,

Art Thieme