We Shall Overcome: Pete Seeger
Pete Seeger, the iconoclastic American singer, songwriter and social activist who did battle with injustice in America armed with a banjo, a guitar and the transformative power of song, has died. He was 94.
“I’d really rather put songs on people’s lips than in their ears.”
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January 28, 2014 at 11:20 am
https://app.box.com/s/tf6n6gg51od9qw6dlwly
January 28, 2014 at 1:16 pm
Sad news! It’s hard to imagine the Pete Seeger is not immortal.
We’ve just had tea-time and to honor him we listened to his 60’s mono vinyl recorded at the Bitter End.
Pete Seeger gave a concert in my hometown in 1986. As soon as I heard about it I drove to the ticket shop. Much money for a poor student, but no chance that I’d miss my one of my heroes! When I left the shop I met an old schoolfriend and happily told him that Pete Seeger will come to town. He hadn’t ever heard of him. It was a great concert and a young singer was with him, but I can’t remember her name. The translations of his songs were simultaneously displayed above the stage, which was nice but unnecessary. His classic songs were known even on this side of the big pond.
A good sounding 1957 concert, if someone is interested:
http://bigozine2.com/roio/?p=272
January 28, 2014 at 3:37 pm
Birgit,
Like you I thought he’d live forever. He was still going strong at 94 when I last saw him sing.
I too would have scraped up the money to see him, and I think I would have had friends who didn’t know Pete Seeger. Now any of my friends were the folk lover I was and still am.
Music transcends language and time!
Thanks for the link.
January 28, 2014 at 11:14 pm
Thanks, Kat. I knew I’d find some of Pete’s songs here tonight. One of my greatest heroes.
I’ve posted excerpts of his trial before the House Un-American Activities Committee (oh, they thought he was a commie!) and an interview with him years later about it. Click link on my name.
Still singing at 94. What a gift to us all.
January 29, 2014 at 5:29 pm
You are very welcome, Ted.
Pete Seeger was a member of the Communist Party in the 1940s which it was trendy. I found a great article bout him and his political background: http://peteseeger.net/wp/?page_id=10
He was an amazing gift to us for so long.
January 29, 2014 at 5:03 pm
“The Peaceful Warrior”, God bless him. My favorite Seeger quote was when he was asked why he rarely sang the precise published lyrics to a song in his concerts. “Goodness, how boring it would be to use the same words every time.” That’s folk music; that was Pete.
January 29, 2014 at 5:31 pm
Jay Bird,
Pete loved to have people sing his music with him. That’s why I love the quote above from him. I played a few songs of his the other day and sang along with most of them. They are still in my head.
January 30, 2014 at 12:39 pm
Late comment – sorry. My first concert date was to drive to New Haven to see Pete Seeger and Odetta. That was nice, as it was anytime one got to hear Pete. Have to pull out my Pete and Arlo records one more time.
January 30, 2014 at 12:49 pm
Hi Bob,
I never saw Pete but I did see Odetta. Together they must have been extraordinary.
I pulled out my Pete records the other day!