Video: A Re-working of Woody Guthrie's Hobo's Lullaby written by Elsie Katz

Gold cherry

By hudsonmoon

Mon, 13 Oct 2014
  • 2635 reads
8 comments
 

The lyrics were written by Elsie Katz. It's to the tune of Woody Guthrie's Hobo's lullabye. She was inspired after reading Guthrie's Bound For Glory. She called her piece A Western: This Machine Kills Facists. I hope I've done it some kind of justice. I was really taken with it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Kmz58beWAg&feature=youtu.be

 
This Macine Kills Fascists
Lyrics by Elsie Katz Music by Woody Guthire
 
'go to sleep you weary hobo'
but the boxcar's full of folks
cussing, bragging, smoking, fighting
speaking memories, swapping jokes.
 
Big white house and prosperous family
Till their dwelling caught afire
Sister died; they built from nothing
Slogged their guts out to survive.
 
Their new house was dank and gloomy
Big tornado knocked it flat.
Mother went to the asylum
They struggled on, no matter what.
 
Uncle died in motorbike crash
Living at the ragged end.
Father wed a fortune teller
It's good fortune to find friends.
 
'go to sleep you weary hobo'
but the boxcar's full of folks
cussing, bragging, smoking, fighting
speaking lives and swapping jokes.
 
Woody used his hands for working
Washing floors and cutting wood
One more man in the Depression
Searching, starving, sweating blood.
 
Learnt guitar songs from  his family
Jumped the railroads though the land
Played in bars and shared with others
Working son of Uncle Sam.
 
Sung of freedom, sung of roving
Sung the Land is ours to share
Strive together then we're winners
'We' not 'I's the path to power.
 
'go to sleep you weary hobo'
but the boxcar's full of folks
cussing, bragging, smoking, fighting
speaking lives and sharing jokes.
 
Lived to only 55 years
Life can be a bl**dy b*itch.
Died of Huntingdon's like  mother
Life and songs were without match.
 
'This machine kills fascists'
Words he scrawled on his guitar
Woody Guthrie you're immortal
Rough man, genius, hero,star.
 
'go to sleep you weary hobo'
but the boxcar's full of folks
cussing, bragging, smoking, fighting
speaking memories, swapping jokes.
 
(song winds down)...go to sleep, rest in peace, Bound for Glory, we salute you
 
 
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
All the information in my ballad is taken from Woody Guthrie's very alive slice of autobiography Bound for Glory.
 
 
Certificate U
Story
Biography

Comments

Submitted by scratch on

Works so well Richard.  Wonderful.

Do you think you could link elsie's story here as well?

 

Submitted by Ray Schaufeld on

Scratch, this was written as a ballad. I haven't got round to hearing it yet as my computer is on the blink and I am using the library computer which doesn't do music. I gave Rich the go-ahead to play it on guitar and U-tube it and I am sure he has done well.  smiley

Submitted by scratch on

Oh he's done well elsie...

This is our facebook and twitter pick of the day!

https://www.facebook.com/pages/ABCtalescom/230195591928

https://twitter.com/ABC_Tales

Get a great reading rrecommendation every day.

Remember though - you were his muse elsie enlightened

 

Submitted by hudsonmoon on

Ah, thanks, scratch. Got a kick reading this on my train ride home. Most happy to share the honors with the lovely and talented Elsie Katz. Lol. I don't think I've ever sang a five minute song before. I was amazed I got through it it in one piece. 

Rich

 

Submitted by Ray Schaufeld on

Rich, we have done it together! I am delighted that this is pick of the day, cheers scratch.

Submitted by hudsonmoon on

We certainly did do it, Elsie. It was great to have partnered up with you, You did a great job with the lyrics.

Rich x

 

Submitted by VeraClark on

Brilliant lyrics and performance. Collaborative work has a feel good factor that's hard to beat.

 

Submitted by hudsonmoon on

Thank you, Vera. How nice of you to say. And I did it with the worst haircut ever. Least you can't say I'm vain. Lol.