[UPDATE: Star Tribune coverage]
Thanks to the internet and search engines, we found a 2016 listing of 12 Powerful Songs that Inspired Social Progress and also Songs About Social Issues, beginning with the 18th century and listing only two in the twenty-first century. We follow @FolkAlley on Twitter and occasionally listen on line, but we haven't been paying close attention to contemporary songs of concern about environmental, labor, social and/or political issues. We think we're probably guilty of being the "no one there to hear it, when a tree falls in the forest." That's relatively easily and enjoyably corrected.
These musing were further triggered today when we came across a reference to The Weavers, a "folk group" which Pete Seeger helped found. The Wikipedia article on the group helps provide some perspective on today's political scene:
During the Red Scare, however, Pete Seeger and Lee Hays were identified as Communist Party members by FBI informant Harvey Matusow (who later recanted) and ended up being called up to testify to the House Committee on Un-American Activities in 1955. Hays took the Fifth Amendment. Seeger refused to answer, however, claiming First Amendment grounds, the first to do so after the conviction of the Hollywood Ten in 1950. Seeger was found guilty of contempt and placed under restrictions by the court pending appeal, but in 1961 his conviction was overturned on technical grounds.[4] Because Seeger was among those listed in the entertainment industry blacklist publication, Red Channels, all of the Weavers were placed under FBI surveillance and not allowed to perform on television or radio during the McCarthy era. Decca Records terminated their recording contract and deleted their records from its catalog in 1953.[5] Their recordings were denied airplay, which curtailed their income from royalties. Right-wing and anti-Communist groups protested at their performances and harassed promoters. As a result, the group's economic viability diminished rapidly and in 1952 it disbanded. After this, Pete Seeger continued his solo career, although as with all of them, he continued to suffer from the effects of blacklisting.
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| Joan Baez 2016 concert
Photo by J. Harrington
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Lurking somewhere in our stacks of CDs, we believe we have a recording of Utah Phillips (and Ani DiFranco?) singing "Which Side Are You On?" DiFranco also has released an album by that title, it includes the song. She is a contemporary folk/social justice singer. Maybe our memory is even more faulty than we think. Our point, before we close to look for the CD in question, is that social media seems to be full of gloom these days. We think the progressive movement would be better served if we had more inclusion of singer-songwriter-musicians to help ease us over the inevitable rough spots and help keep us "Forever Young." Baez sang this Dylan work last night and it was, for me, the bittersweet high point of an evening for which we here and now publicly thank our Better Half for getting the tickets.
Forever Young
Written by: Bob Dylan
May God bless and keep you always
May your wishes all come true
May you always do for others
And let others do for you
May you build a ladder to the stars
And climb on every rung
May you stay forever young
Forever young, forever young
May you stay forever young
May you grow up to be righteous
May you grow up to be true
May you always know the truth
And see the lights surrounding you
May you always be courageous
Stand upright and be strong
May you stay forever young
Forever young, forever young
May you stay forever young
May your hands always be busy
May your feet always be swift
May you have a strong foundation
When the winds of changes shift
May your heart always be joyful
May your song always be sung
May you stay forever young
Forever young, forever young
May you stay forever young
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