Folksingers' Day holiday

Subject: Folksingers' Day holiday
From: Suffet
Date: 06 Jul 01 - 05:21 PM

Here's an idea whose time has come. Let's make July 14th, Woody Guthrie's Birthday, an UNOFFICIAL national (USA) holiday. Let's not bother with acts of Congress and Presidential proclamations. Just take the day off from work. And if anyone asks why, tell the truth: "I'm taking the day off because it's Woody Guthrie's Birthday." Maybe we can even turn this into Folksingers' Day, the way George Washington's Birthday evolved into Presidents' Day. That way we will have a day to honor all folksingers!

July 14th is also la Fête Nationale de la France (Bastille Day), all the more reason to take it off. But we need not confine this holiday to the USA and France. The whole world can take the day off. So go ahead and tell the boss "Vive la France! Vive l'anniversaire Woody! I'll see you again on the 15th."


--- Steve

Subject: RE: Folksingers' Day holiday
From: Cappuccino
Date: 06 Jul 01 - 06:22 PM

Reminds me of a story I had to write for a British pub trade magazine, about the number of 'awareness days' there are each year... each one is a business opportunity, of course. I managed to compile 400 of them, from which one enterprising pub owner discovered, to the delight of his 'specialist' clientele, that in the middle of Gay Pride week he could also let them celebrate World Naturist Day...

- Ian B

Subject: RE: Folksingers' Day holiday
From: Suffet
Date: 06 Jul 01 - 07:57 PM

Meanwhile, here's the first song especially composed for the Woody Guthrie's Birthday -- Folksingers' Day holiday.

IT'S WOODY'S BIRTHDAY!
Tune: Ten Little Indians (trad)
Words: Stephen L. Suffet © 2001

I'm taking off, it's Woody's Birthday,
You're taking off, it's Woody's Birthday,
We're taking off, it's Woody's Birthday,
We'll be back to work tomorrow!

I'm taking off, it's Bastille Day,
Vive la France, it's Bastille Day,
Storm the walls, it's Bastille Day,
And it's also Woody's Birthday!

We need a day off, we're folksingers,
Banjo pickers and rafter ringers,
Guitar pickers and real humdingers,
Besides it's Woody's Birthday!

We'll sing for Pete and Leadbelly,
Of Jesse James and Ned Kelley,
Of Barnacle Bill and Little Nellie,
Hey, it's Woody's Birthday!

I'm taking off, it's Woody's Birthday,
You're taking off, it's Woody's Birthday,
We're taking off, it's Woody's Birthday,
We'll be back to work tomorrow!
[Spoken: If we still have jobs!]


--- Steve

Subject: RE: Folksingers' Day holiday
From: Suffet
Date: 07 Jul 01 - 04:39 PM

What, just one response? Oh, well, it's still worth keeping this thread refreshed one more day. But if it peters out again, I consign it to the dustbin of Mudcat history. I hope Ada up in Rochester, NY, has added that song to her collection. She's the self-appointed keeper of my work, including the songs I would just as soon forget.

--- Steve

Subject: RE: Folksingers' Day holiday
From: IvanB
Date: 07 Jul 01 - 04:47 PM

YES! We'll start out with it as Woody's B'day, on the 14th and, in a few years when people have become used to the idea, we'll rename it to Folksingers' Day and celebrate on the Monday nearest the 14th.

Whee!! Another long weekend!

Subject: RE: Folksingers' Day holiday
From: Amos
Date: 07 Jul 01 - 05:59 PM

GREAT song, Steve. I can just hear Woody singing it!! Heehee. Nice job!!

A

Subject: RE: Folksingers' Day holiday
From: Abby Sale
Date: 07 Jul 01 - 08:04 PM

Me, too. I'll drink to that!

Subject: RE: Folksingers' Day holiday
From: GUEST,Kernow John
Date: 08 Jul 01 - 05:12 PM

Bloody good idea Steve I'm with you!
KJ

Subject: RE: Folksingers' Day holiday
From: Mrs.Duck
Date: 08 Jul 01 - 05:54 PM

But its a Saturday I have it off anyway!!!

Subject: RE: Folksingers' Day holiday
From: GUEST,What Would Woody Do?
Date: 08 Jul 01 - 06:17 PM

For a set list for Folksinger's Day?

Subject: RE: Folksingers' Day holiday
From: Suffet
Date: 14 Jul 01 - 12:38 PM

Happy Universal Folksingers' Day!


--- Steve

Subject: RE: Folksingers' Day holiday
From: Amos
Date: 14 Jul 01 - 01:05 PM

Happy
Folksingers
Universal
Congress of
Knowledge and
Exposition
Day!!

Subject: RE: Folksingers' Day holiday
From: Cobble
Date: 14 Jul 01 - 01:10 PM

Yep I'll go with that.

Cobble.

Subject: RE: Folksingers' Day holiday
From: Suffet
Date: 19 May 02 - 02:01 PM

Time to refresh this thread. The Folksingers' Day holiday is coming around again in less than two months.

--- Steve

Subject: RE: Folksingers' Day holiday
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 19 May 02 - 07:09 PM

And I think most of us should be taking the day off. (I just checked the calendar...)

Subject: RE: Folksingers' Day holiday
From: Bert
Date: 20 May 02 - 03:33 AM

Why only Woody? We should also take a day off for Carl Sandberg and Cecil Sharpe and Maud Karpeles and LLoyd Shaw and Huddie Ledbetter and Cisco Houston and.. and.. and..

'course when you're unemplyed that's easy.

Subject: RE: Folksingers' Day holiday
From: Mr Red
Date: 20 May 02 - 02:32 PM

Looks like I will be taking that day off, and every one until. And many after on current showing. However I will think of Woody that day.

Subject: RE: Folksingers' Day holiday
From: GUEST,John Hernandez
Date: 21 May 02 - 08:11 AM

Bert,I believe the intention was to honor all folk singers on July 14. Look again at the first message in the thread.

Subject: RE: Folksingers' Day holiday
From: curmudgeon
Date: 21 May 02 - 10:31 AM

While I really do like the idea of a National Folksingers' Day, I like better the idea of an International Folksingers' Day.. But since 14 July is also the official birthday of the French Republic, we might have to consider a different date.

IvanB's notion of a "moveable feast" on a predetermined Monday is also good. But why not a Friday just to be different?

Tom

Subject: RE: Folksingers' Day holiday
From: Suffet
Date: 05 Jul 02 - 11:38 AM

Been hitting a lot of HARD TRAVELING lately? Been RAMBLING AROUND and feeling just like a DUST BOWL REFUGEE? Have you been GOING DOWN THE ROAD FEELING BAD? Has your CURLY HEADED BABY in those OKLAHOMA HILLS told you SO LONG, IT'S BEEN GOOD TO KNOW YOU? Then you should be TAKING IT EASY, TAKING IT SLOW. Just hitch a ride on that SHIP IN THE SKY or jump into your CAR, CAR and head straight way to NEW YORK TOWN where you will find the...

SECOND ANNUAL WOODY GUTHRIE BIRTHDAY BASH
ROUND ROBIN SONGFEST

International Folksingers' Day
Sunday -- July 14, 2002 -- 7 to 9 PM

CB's 313 Gallery
313 Bowery
New York City

$5 cover. What a bargain!

Featured artists:
Jessica Feinbloom
Joel Landy
Eric Levine
Anne Price
Steve Suffet

Special guest artist:
Frank Woerner

Accompanists:
Toby Fagenson
Gina Tlamsa
Carlos Vasquez


--- Steve

Subject: RE: Folksingers' Day holiday
From: Mudlark
Date: 05 Jul 02 - 12:33 PM

Sigh....it's not the cover, a bargain, I agree, it's the air fare. I'LL be spending the 14th w/my French aunt, who doesn't even LIKE folk music. She will be celebrating Bastille Day....but I will be celebrating International Folkmusic Day! Have fun...