Songs That Tell Stories

My apologies on that and thanks for the correction. Yes, it was written by the late Steve Goodman.

While we're talking about Goodman, one of my favorite of his songs was the almost unknown, Yellow Coat. I would like to post a link to it but my computer is loading far too slowly.

If mistakes were gold, I would be the world's wealthiest person.

Me, too!

The last Phil Ochs song is about James Dean. The title is not showing up on the video, for me.

Great one by Ramblin Jack, edgar. I just noticed that he did Salt Pork West Virginia. Bud told me about that incident.

Another one. Follow the Drinking Gourd.



Some background:


The Underground Rail Road

In spite of its name, the Underground Railroad was not underground nor was it a railroad with physical tracks laid throughout the countryside. The last northern terminal on this railroad was Owen Sound. It was the largest North American freedom movement and, a highly secret one that transported the majority of escaped slaves from the Southern States to the Northern US and Canada.

The story of the Underground Railroad had its beginnings in Africa, when the Portuguese captured the first slaves in the 1400s. It has been estimated that twelve million Africans were uprooted from their homeland and sold into a life of slavery between 1450 and 1850. Of this total, five percent were delivered to British North America and to what later became the United States of America.

The drinking gourd was a comparison to the big dipper and the direction of it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cn4DtlZ8FSc&feature=related

The Drinking Gourd is a fine song, letty. I know it by somebody else - Can't recall who.

Probably Peter, Paul and Mary.

I researched after my post - Nope. It was Richie Havens.

I saw Richie live at a small club. Although some musician friends complain that his current manager is manipulating him, he is still has a powerful stage presence. He also shook hands with every member of the audience.

I'm Hans Christian Anderson.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KJzwC_8f6nA

I saw that film, many years ago, but don't recall that song. Danny Kaye was always fun to watch.

The Weavers did the first recorded version of "Follow the Drinking Gourd" that I know of. One of Steve Goodman's story songs I've always loved was "The Dutchman" (actually written by Michael Smith), a really poignant story of loving someone with Alzheimer's.




And looking for a video of that I came upon another one by Steve Goodman (Homer and Jethro had a major country hit with it twenty years or so before Steve, I think), that's kind of a story about the modern American blended family:



"I'm My Own Grandpa"

Surely Against The Wind ranks someplace among your favorite ballads, Tex.

Sorry, 33. Don't enjoy Seger's work. But don't let me be a wet blanket. I am sure most people who stop in here love it.

how do you feel about Seeger?