Late last month, one of the most important figures in 20th century American folk music, Pete Seeger, died at the age of 94. I wrote a retrospective article on his career for use by the music service I've mentioned before, and eventually I'll post it here. For now I just want to list a few of the significant songs that were written or performed by Seeger.
The Songs of the Almanac Singers – In the early 1940s, Seeger was a member of the Almanac Singers, who sang songs supporting unions and opposing war, along with other progressive causes. Some notable songs they recorded were "Which Side Are You On?", "Talking Union" (written by Almanacs Millard Lampell, Lee Hays, and Seeger), and "Reuben James" (written by Almanac Woody Guthrie).
The Songs of the Weavers – In the late 1940s and early 1950s, Seeger was a member of the Weavers. Among their best known recordings were their versions of Lead Belly's "Goodnight Irene", the South African song "Wimoweh" (originally written and recorded by Solomon Linda under the title "Mbube"), the Israeli song "Tzena, Tzena, Tzena", the Woody Guthrie song "So Long (It's Been Good to Know You)", and the traditional "On Top of Old Smoky". In addition, the Weavers rewrote an old folk song with Irish origins (it had been further adapted by Lead Belly) as "Kisses Sweeter than Wine", with mostly new lyrics by Seeger's fellow Weaver Lee Hays and a few additional changes by Seeger himself. The Weavers were also the first to record "The Hammer Song" (see below). Contemporary performances by the Weavers of several of their songs can be seen here.
If I Had a Hammer – Originally titled "The Hammer Song", "If I Had a Hammer" was written in early 1949 by Seeger (who, by Seeger's own account, wrote the music) and Lee Hays (who wrote the words). The Weavers released the song (under the title "The Hammer Song") as a single in 1950, and that same year the sheet music appeared on the cover of the folk music magazine Sing Out! The lyric "all of my brothers" was changed to "my brothers and my sisters" in 1952 to make the song inclusive of women. Seeger recorded a solo version of the song in 1956. In 1961, Peter, Paul and Mary changed the melody slightly for their recording of the song, which became a huge hit. They can be seen performing the song live in 1963 here, and a live performance the same year by Seeger himself can be seen here.
Where Have All the Flowers Gone – Seeger wrote the first three verses of this song in 1955. He said the melody he set them to was that of a Russian folk song named "Koloda Duda". In 1960, folk singer Joe Hickerson added some additional verses. In 1961, the Kingston Trio recorded the song, making it a hit. Subsequently it has been recorded by many artists, a notable example being Marlene Dietrich, who sang it in English, German and French. Seeger himself recorded the song in 1960. Here's a live version from 1968 in which Seeger opens with a nod to Dietrich's German version.
Turn! Turn! Turn! (To Everything There Is a Season) – Seeger wrote the music to this song, originally titled "To Everything There Is a Season", in the late 1950s. The lyrics were taken almost word for word from the Biblical book of Ecclesiastes. The song was first recorded in 1962 by the Limeliters and Seeger recorded his own version about the same time (this may or may not be that early recording). In 1963, Judy Collins recorded the song under the title "Turn! Turn! Turn! (To Everything There Is a Season)". One of the backing musicians on that recording was Jim McGuinn (later known as Roger McGuinn), whose band the Byrds recorded the song in 1965 and made it a massive international hit.
The Bells of Rhymney – This song was written by Seeger in the 1950s. The words were from a poem by Welsh poet Idris Davies. Seeger first recorded it in 1958 on a live album he did with Sonny Terry. In 1965, the Byrds recorded the best known version of the song for their debut album Mr. Tambourine Man. Here is one of Seeger's live recordings of the song.
We Shall Overcome – This internationally-renowned civil rights anthem had a complicated history. Among the songs which have been named as influences or early versions of the song are "I'll Overcome Someday" by Kenneth Morris, "I'll Be Like Him Someday" by Roberta Martin, "If My Jesus Wills" by Louise Shropshire, "I'll Overcome Someday" by Charles Albert Tindley, and the 18th century Italian Catholic hymn "O Sanctissima". In any event, Seeger learned the song as "We Will Overcome" from Zilphia Horton, who heard it from a group of striking tobacco workers, one of whom, Lucille Simmons, has been credited with changing the original "I" to "we". Seeger himself apparently was the one who changed "will" to "shall", and both Horton and Seeger wrote new verses. Frank Hamilton, Guy Carawan and students at Highlander Folk School further adapted it to the form heard in the civil rights era. Here is a video of Seeger singing it in the early 1960s.
Guantanamera – This song from Cuba apparently originated as a love song, commonly attributed to José Fernández Diaz. Julián Orbón adapted poetry by Cuban independence hero José Martí to the tune, and this is the version sung in Cuba today. Seeger further adapted the song, popularizing it in the US. He recorded it on his live concert album We Shall Overcome in 1963. His version was the basis for the 1966 hit recording by the Sandpipers.
Waist Deep in the Big Muddy – Seeger wrote this song in 1967 and included it on his album Waist Deep in the Big Muddy and Other Love Songs. The song, while telling the story of a platoon (commanded by a captain who is a "big fool") on a practice patrol in 1942, is obviously directed at the then on-going Vietnam War. Seeger taped the song for the Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour in late 1967 (his first national television appearance since being blacklisted in the early 1950s), but the song was censored by the network before broadcast. After widespread protests, he was able to perform the song on the show early the following year.
Little Boxes – The satirical "Little Boxes", which mocks conformity, was written by folk singer Malvina Reynolds in 1962. Seeger recorded it in 1963 and it became a hit. The song has been widely covered since.
This is just a small selection of the songs that Seeger performed in his seven decades in music. Just as important as his music was his activism, as he continued to fight for causes he believed in almost to the day he died.
In other news, a few days ago we passed the 50th anniversary of the Beatles' appearance on the Ed Sullivan show, an anniversary which inspired numerous news reports and media references. I have covered the Beatles frequently here – for instance see my reviews of Revolver and Abbey Road, my articles on Paul, John, George, and Ringo, and my imaginary post-breakup Beatles albums – and I'm sure I will again. For now, here's a clip of the Beatles performing "I Want to Hold Your Hand" on the Ed Sullivan Show.
