I figured somebody else'd mention it, but I don't see anything on a quick search, so I just wanted to say happy birthday to a great American and the spiritual father to every hard-scrabbling, hard-scribbling progressive political songwriter out there.
Born this day in 19 and 12 in Okemah, Oklahoma, Woodrow Wilson Guthrie was a tireless singer, songwriter, organizer and wanderer who gave this country some of its proudest (and most controversial) music, including the song that at least 4% of us tell pollsters we'd prefer as our national anthem:
Guess that bit about the "Private Property" sign'll never go over with the great, Koch-addled unwashed...
There's books worth of things to say about Woody--heck, a subject that deep even brought out the good writer in Joe Klein--but I haven't got time right now. I just wanted to say happy birthday and a big, old thanks to the old hobo who showed us all how it's done.
Happy birthday, Woody.
Lagniappe:
Guthrie's estate recently gave a number of artists permission to write music for Woody's numerous music-less lyrics. Here's the Del McCoury Band in the studio working up "California Gold" for an upcoming release: