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Grandfather And Me
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While hitchhiking in Northern Idaho in the Spring of 1975, I was told this story by my ride. It's about his family, union organizers, their opposition to WW1 and the violence they experienced.
antiwar union
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Folk singer, social commentary, satire, people's stories, children's music
Hi Folks, The Bard Insurgent here. My comrade D.O. (the Poet Roofer) and I got that handle (The Bard Insurgents) from traveling town to town performing songs and poetry about people's lives. I've been performing since I was 3 years old, cutting my vocal chords on liturgical and classical music. I was a concert soloist as a child, when I wasn't herding cows, throwing hay and shoveling manure. During the Civil Rights movement and the Vietnam war, I began writing songs about social change. I left the country in 1970 and my dozen years in other countries, mostly in Africa & South America, have provided a global perspective to my music. My travels helped me realize that people all around the world are essentially the same in their basic life needs and their desires to live peacefully in their communities. These experiences have informed my commitment to working for international understanding as I organize at home. A powerful way to educate and inspire is with music. I tell people's stories, do social commentary with a touch of satire that I hope you enjoy and share with your friends, as well as sing together in the streets and in your living rooms. I also have children's music written for the children in my life with Jacob and Kayla as primary muses. Looking forward to seeing you on the road, Tom
Song Info
Charts
Peak #45
Peak in subgenre #5
Author
Tom Neilson
Rights
1997
Uploaded
October 17, 2004
Track Files
MP3
MP3 6.6 MB 128 kbps 0:00
Story behind the song
While hitchhiking in Northern Idaho in the Spring of 1975, I was told this story by my ride. It's about his grandfather and mother. Both were union organizers around 1919.
Lyrics
Grandpa played his concertina Singin', "If we go & fight this war The rich folks just get richer. That's what this war is for." Those Oklahoma farmers picked green corn For their march on Washington The working class, opposing the draft And corporate use of trhe gun. Green corn rebellion Was sent to Oklahoma jailers. In Boston streets on the 1st of July We were beat up by soldiers and sailers. Hard times in the city, Company men comin' round. Mama didn't come home after work, Granpa's tears were flowin' down. Hard times in the country, Red scare runnin' wild Grandpa left in the middle of the night Carryin' a child. Out to a mouontain, grandfather and me. Take what you can carry With a child and your history. Sacco was a good man. I knew Vanzetti too. I never thought when they picked you up They'd turn the juiice on you. Free speech has no season, Penalty is up to 20 years, Union is another word for treason Says the Ministry of fear. Out on a mountain, Grandfather and me. Turn every rock and boulder To feed your family. Grandpa never lost his humor, But some days he'd hold his head and cry. He taught me what life was like to struggle. And sing me to sleep with a lullabye. Come out of the mountain, Grandfather and me. Turn every rock and boulder To free your family.
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