Folkways - Tumblr Posts

Song of the day

(do you want the history of your favorite folk song? dm me or submit an ask and I'll do a full rundown)

"My Dirty Stream (Hudson River Song)" Pete Seeger, 1966

like all of the songs on the "God Bless the Grass" album, this song is meant to send an environmental message and raise awareness of pollution of the Hudson River. this was also the same year that Pete Seeger told of his plans to build sloop, the Clearwater, to advocate for the cleaning of the Hudson River.

clearwater.org 2011

i am Obsessed with "The Union Boys" band, formed on March 11, 1944, that literally only existed for one day.

they released one album consisting of entirely anti-fascist, anti-racist, and pro union songs. And it was given its name by Moses Asch, very descriptive name.

consisting of Josh White (underrated ! listen to his music), Sonny Terry, Brownie McGhee, Pete Seeger, Burl Ives, Tom Glazer, and technically woody guthrie. this album is the reason i always have "UAW-CIO" stuck in my head lol.

Song of The Day

"Shake Sugaree" Elizabeth Cotten and Brenda Evans, 1960s Shake Sugaree was written sometime in the 1960s by Elizabeth Cotten's Great-Grandchildren. She explains, "Each child got a verse." The song is sung here by Brenda Evans, who was 12 years old then, and was recorded by Mike Seeger. This song could have been the inspiration for the song "Sugaree" by the Grateful Dead, but the band has denied this. Jerry Garcia was a big fan of her work and performed and the band performed some of her songs. I'm not really familiar with these people though, so I'm not sure. Brenda Evans would continue to be a musician, and I think, was a member of the band "The Undisputed Truth" for a time. And would continue to make and perform music in the 1970s.