I've been pretty sick since CPAC but haven't wanted to say much about it. Just a bug, but it morphed and took a couple different antibiotics before, hopefully, it's finally started being rooted out. Started with the Flu, I guess - and went from there. That's why the light posting and ornery disposition when I have, probably.
Anyway ... here's a little ditty from The Highwaymen with some interesting history. Part of the back story certainly makes Arlo Guthrie look like a freaking jerk. If it wasn't for Guthrie's Father Woody, we wouldn't have had to endure the mostly untalented fool. Figures he's a Paulbot. Goodman battled Leukemia throughout most of his career.
While at the Quiet Knight, Goodman saw Arlo Guthrie, and asked to be allowed to play a song for him. Guthrie grudgingly agreed, on the condition that Goodman buy him a beer first; Guthrie would listen to Goodman for as long as it took Guthrie to drink the beer.
City of New Orleans:
Goodness Willie, why not burn Woody in effigy? That's in the top two worst renditions of CNO ever.
Posted by: Wahoo WIllie Sez: | Wednesday, February 20, 2008 at 07:49 AM
Heh. Never thought much one way or the other about the Guthries. They seemed kind of leftward-leaning to me.
Posted by: seekeronos | Wednesday, February 20, 2008 at 09:32 AM
My wife and I rode the train they call The City of New Orleans once from Chicago to New Orleans in March of 1965. It was exactly like Steve Goodman describes it in the song.
We left Chicago in a snow storm and arrived in New Orleans where it was warm and the azaleas were already blooming.
Steve Goodman wrote a great song and I think Arlo's version is the best one.
Posted by: joeb | Wednesday, February 20, 2008 at 09:54 AM
"I've been pretty sick since CPAC"
President Obama plans to have medical coverage for everyone - even you Neo-Whigs. So cheer up!
Posted by: chris | Wednesday, February 20, 2008 at 11:27 AM
"President Obama plans to have medical coverage for everyone - even you Neo-Whigs. So cheer up!"
YES!! and at least if you want, you can opt out of it. But when faced with $300.00 a year as oposed to $300.00 a month I think I like Obamarama. Then, I can go to the VA if I want now so why even pay 300 year? All I can see is a brand new boat!
Posted by: Wahoo WIllie Sez: | Wednesday, February 20, 2008 at 12:14 PM
"I've been pretty sick since CPAC"
Me too Dan... but not on account of my having been there to have caught any germs. Then again, I've been under the weather since the SC primary. :P
Posted by: seekeronos | Wednesday, February 20, 2008 at 12:19 PM
why not burn Woody in effigy?
May as well, flippin' communist.
Posted by: Dan Riehl | Wednesday, February 20, 2008 at 12:41 PM
Willie...Willie...Willie.....why can't you lose that habit of screwing up the vocal phrasing on your live cuts! His studio version gets the nod over this one.
Posted by: JD | Wednesday, February 20, 2008 at 12:55 PM
Goodman, Dylan, Willie, Johnny Cash - the list goes on and on - wouldn't think much of your idea to burn Woody in effigy.
Who knows what happened in Chicago. By the time Goodman died, he and Arlo were good friends.
Posted by: Worst President Ever | Wednesday, February 20, 2008 at 02:12 PM
"wouldn't think much of your idea to burn Woody in effigy"
Yeah, well I don't think much of their politics and couldn't care less about what they do / did besides play guitar and sing.
Posted by: Dan Riehl | Wednesday, February 20, 2008 at 03:26 PM
Few have said it better:
THIS LAND IS YOUR LAND
words and music by Woody Guthrie
Chorus:
This land is your land, this land is my land
From California, to the New York Island
From the redwood forest, to the gulf stream waters
This land was made for you and me
As I was walking a ribbon of highway
I saw above me an endless skyway
I saw below me a golden valley
This land was made for you and me
Chorus
I've roamed and rambled and I've followed my footsteps
To the sparkling sands of her diamond deserts
And all around me a voice was sounding
This land was made for you and me
Chorus
The sun comes shining as I was strolling
The wheat fields waving and the dust clouds rolling
The fog was lifting a voice come chanting
This land was made for you and me
Chorus
As I was walkin' - I saw a sign there
And that sign said - no tress passin'
But on the other side .... it didn't say nothin!
Now that side was made for you and me!
Chorus
In the squares of the city - In the shadow of the steeple
Near the relief office - I see my people
And some are grumblin' and some are wonderin'
If this land's still made for you and me.
Posted by: Worst President Ever | Wednesday, February 20, 2008 at 06:10 PM
It was made for people who get off their ass and make something of themselves without government's help, WPE. It ain't exactly the dustbowl out there anymore in case you haven't noticed.
Posted by: Dan Riehl | Wednesday, February 20, 2008 at 07:10 PM
Dan, I hear a rumor that OBamarama's campaign song for the "big show" is going to be the original version of "Big Rock Candy Mountain"
Posted by: Wahoo WIllie Sez: | Wednesday, February 20, 2008 at 07:15 PM
As noted by others above, that for sure is not the best recording of a great song. Mr. Nelson seems to be in a hurry to get through it without straining his vocal chords. No heart there, Willie (and I've been a fan).
What really bugs me is the flag bandanna though. That is neither patriotic nor cool, as anyone who knows much about the flag code can explain. You don't wear the flag, you don't soil the flag, you don't tie up the flag: she hangs free and is treated with the respect due a living being.
You lost a fan Willie, and that goes for the bums on stage with you as well (who didn't have the character to speak up).
P-dub.
Posted by: Peter Warner | Saturday, February 23, 2008 at 12:26 PM