ADD: My Peace (Woody Guthrie)

Subject: ADD: My Peace (Woody Guthrie)
From: Ebbie
Date: 25 May 13 - 10:42 AM

At music last night the subject came up about this song, and we speculated on the meaning of 'I give my peace to green and black,' etc. What does green and black refer to? I know he mentions 'hands of every hue'- is that all he is saying?

MY PEACE
(Words by Woody Guthrie, Music by Arlo Guthrie)

My peace my peace is all I've got that I can give to you
My peace is all I ever had that's all I ever knew
I give my peace to green and black and red and white and blue
My peace my peace is all I've got that I can give to you

My peace, my peace is all I've got and all I've ever known
My peace is worth a thousand times more than anything I own
I pass my peace around and about 'cross hands of every hue;
I guess my peace is justa 'bout all I've got to give to you

---

Identical to official lyrics at woodyguthrie.org. -Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Woody Guthrie's My Peace
From: Ebbie
Date: 26 May 13 - 10:23 AM

Anyone have any ideas?

Subject: RE: Woody Guthrie's My Peace
From: GUEST,DrWord
Date: 26 May 13 - 12:07 PM

Hey Ebbie.
I'd have to agree, given the every hue, that is ALL he's saying|singing.
I would LOVE to hear the melody that was in Woodrow's brain when writing this down. I haven't heard Arlo do this . . . but the scansion is such that I can't read it without it spawning a tune.

Were there other ideas [we speculated ... ] ?

did you do a lyrics addition? or do helpful little mudbots handle that?

sending you my peace
keep on pickin'
dennis

Subject: RE: Woody Guthrie's My Peace
From: Joe Offer
Date: 26 May 13 - 10:20 PM

Hi, Dennis -
I check the lyrics and mark them for harvesting. It's up to Dick & Susan to harvest what they choose for the Digital Tradition, but I make sure songs are properly formatted and labeled for easier searching.
There is a huge collection of lyrics at http://www.woodyguthrie.org/, the Website maintained by Woody's family. I don't know if it contains ALL Woody's lyrics, but it sure has a lot.
-Joe Offer, Mudcat archivist-

Subject: RE: Woody Guthrie's My Peace
From: GUEST,Ebbie
Date: 27 May 13 - 03:14 PM

Arlo Guthrie, according to himself, is the one who put it to music, a very serene, peaceful melody. Arlo did a concert here in Juneau earlier this month- I didn't go but those who did say he did a wonderful show.

Subject: RE: Woody Guthrie's My Peace
From: Joe Offer
Date: 30 May 13 - 03:40 AM

I found a YouTube video of Arlo singing this song.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6w25NDiC0Zw

Arlo made a few changes to the lyrics:

MY PEACE
(Words by Woody Guthrie, Music by Arlo Guthrie)

My peace, my peace is all I've got, that I can give to you;
My peace is all I've ever had, it's all I ever knew
I give my peace to green and black, to red and white and blue
My peace, my peace is all I've got, that I can give to you.

My peace, my peace is all I've got, it's all I've ever known
My peace is worth a thousand times more, than anything I own
I pass my peace around and around, 'cross hands of every hue;
My peace, my peace is all I've got, that I can give to you.

Subject: RE: Woody Guthrie's My Peace
From: GUEST,tuvya
Date: 13 Aug 17 - 09:50 PM

I think you may find the melody Arlo chose is based on Fred Hellerman's when Fred was with The Weavers and added verses to "I Never Will Marry."