Lyr Req: The Legend of Pete Seeger (Will McLean)

Subject: Lyr Req: The Legend of Pete Seeger - Will McLean
From: oldhippie
Date: 08 Feb 09 - 07:56 AM

Anyone have the lyrics?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Legend of Pete Seeger - Will McLean
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 09 Feb 09 - 11:06 PM

The Broadside Collection (named for Broadside Magazine, 1960s-70s) at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill has several archival tapes of THE LEGEND OF PETE SEEGER being performed by Will McLean.

Central Florida Community College has a document in its Will McLean collection that has these words, presumably in Will McLean's handwriting:

The blood of those who gave their all
To keep our country free
Has stained our hallowed land for naught
Unless both you and me
Do meet our duty proud and strong
And use our precious right
The precious right to live and die
In freedom's burning light.

Legend of Pete Seeger

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Legend of Pete Seeger - Will McLean
From: GUEST,TJ in San Diego
Date: 10 Feb 09 - 04:47 PM

Peter has been much in the news lately, and much mentioned in Mudcat. I saw an article in our local paper this morning recounting an incident in 1960 in which he was involved. It seems that the school board in San Diego, learning that Pete was about to perform for a student group at Hoover High School, attempted to cancel the event and prevent his appearance. It seems they were fearful of the "fallout," given the climate of the times, from Pete's days of dealing with the McCarthy era hearings and investigations. San Diego, at that time, was a very heavily conservative bastion.

The ACLU intervened and he did perform. However, it took until this year, 2009, for a formal apology to be given to this tireless activist and performer by the current board. Undoubtedly, they were motivated by the recent accolades he has been given and his recognition by the new administration. Sad, but true.