Lyr Req: Dear Mrs Roosevelt (Woody Guthrie)

Subject: info req: Seeger song re. Eleanor Roosevelt
From: hilary klotz
Date: 29 Mar 99 - 12:35 PM

I'm currently working in association with WGBH TV in Boston on a documentary about Eleanor Roosevelt's life for national broadcast on the public television American history series, "The American Experience." I'm researching music for our documentary, and have heard that Pete Seeger wrote a song either about Eleanor Roosevelt or with some lyrics mentioning Mrs. Roosevelt. I'm hoping some kind and knowledgeable soul will read this message and know the answer or point me in the right direction. Could anyone suggest any experts on Seeger's music who might know about the song? Thank you very much for your attention and assistance, and I look forward to hearing from someone. Sincerely, Hilary Klotz Associate producer Ambrica Productions 225 Lafayette Street, Suite 1106 New York, NY 10012 Tel: [phone] Fax: [phone] E-mail: [e-mail]

Subject: RE: info req: Seeger song re. Eleanor Roosevelt
From: Joe Offer
Date: 29 Mar 99 - 01:04 PM

Hi, Hilary - No mention of Eleanor in Pete's Incompleat Folksinger. The index for his 1993 book, Where Have All the Flowers Gone has two entries for Eleanor, but I think one is incorrect because I couldn't find her name on the page cited. The good reference was to a song Pete recorded that was written by Millard Lampell and Lee Hays (Pete's fellow members of the Almanac Singers), the BALLAD OF OCTOBER 16 (click here) (called "Ballad of FDR" in our database). If you search our database for Eleanor or Seeger, you will find a number of references, but this is the only song I know of that is associated with both Pete and Eleanor.
It's an interesting question you've posed. Check back a few times over the next few days, and I'm sure you'll find other responses.
-Joe Offer-

By the way, I'd highly recommend the Where Have All the Flowers Gone book. It has a lot of other information that might interest you. It's available for $25 from the publisher, Sing Out! Magazine, (1-888-SING-OUT).

Subject: Lyr Add: DEAR MRS. ROOSEVELT (Woody Guthrie)
From: Dani
Date: 30 Mar 99 - 08:34 AM

Could this be what you're thinking of? Give me a little time and I'll find out more about it, if it is.

Dani

DEAR MRS. ROOSEVELT
(Woody Guthrie)

Dear Mrs. Roosevelt, don't hang your head and cry.
His mortal flesh is laid away but his good work fills the sky.
This world was lucky to see him born.

Now he went up to grade school and he wrote back to his folks.
He drew such funny pictures and was always pulling jokes.
This world was lucky to see him born.

He went up to Harvard to read his books of law.
He loved his trees and horses, he loved everything he saw.
This world was lucky to see him born.

He got struck down by the fever and it settled in his leg.
He loved the folks that wished him well and everybody did.
This world was lucky to see him born.

He took office on a crippled leg and he said to one and all:
Your money changing racket, boys, sure enough got to fall.
This world was lucky to see him born.

I voted for him lots of times and I'd vote for him again.
He tried to find an honest job for every idle man.
This world was lucky to see him born.

Subject: RE: info req: Seeger song re. Eleanor roosevelt
From: Hilary
Date: 30 Mar 99 - 10:24 AM

Dani: Many thanks for your response and for posting the lyrics to "Dear Mrs. Roosevelt." That must be the song I heard about.

Subject: RE: info req: Seeger song re. Eleanor roosevelt
From: Dani
Date: 30 Mar 99 - 03:12 PM

Hilary, let us know when the program will air! Eleanor is one of my heroes.

Subject: RE: info req: Seeger song re. Eleanor roosevelt
From: Hilary
Date: 31 Mar 99 - 10:32 AM

Dani: We've just started editing our program, and it won't be on the air until late winter/spring of 2000. (Seems like a long way off doesn't it?) I have one last question for you - Do you have any suggestions where I might be able to find an orginal Almanac Singeres recording of "Dear Mrs. Roosevelt" from the 1940's. I've checked at Smithsonian/Folkways, but they don't have anything. The group was pre-Folkways and made their recordings on small labels. Thanks again for all your help. Hilary

Subject: RE: info req: Seeger song re. Eleanor roosevelt
From: Sandy Paton
Date: 31 Mar 99 - 03:01 PM

Wally Macnow at Camsco Music can probably get the Bear Family 10 CD and book set of Songs for Political Action, which has been described as "expensive, but worth it!" Check his web site.

Sandy

Subject: RE: info req: Seeger song re. Eleanor roosevelt
From: Hilary
Date: 08 Apr 99 - 09:38 AM

Sandy: Thanks very much for the tip. Hilary

Subject: RE: info req: Seeger song re. Eleanor roosevelt
From: Martin Jonas
Date: 08 Apr 99 - 10:34 AM

Hilary --

If you can't find the Almanac's version, you may be interested to know that there is a very good version of that song recorded by Bob Dylan backed by The Band, which can be found on the "Tribute To Woody Guthrie" CD on Warner Brothers.

Martin