Come back Woody Guthrie, come back to us now.... [View All]

I'm watching a replay of the Kerry rally in Cleveland, Ohio.
I caught the Bruce Springsteen opening with him doing an acoustic version of "No retreat, No Surrender".

It occurred to me that I wasn't ready for this.
I mean where did this come from? The Boss?
Some greaser from Asbury Park, New Jersey?
Where the hell did he come from?

Bush Bots have their Toby Keith's, and Charlie Daniels, and other redneck icons that think they speak for all of us.

They don't.

Toby Keith couldn't polish Steve Earle's shoes.

And that's what this post is about.

Springsteen came out of no where.

Just him, his guitar, his songs and his genuine, eager desire just to help...
to change...to inspire us all to remember when a man and a guitar could strike a chord in us all.

On the album "Jerusalem" Steve Earle sang about the need for someone like Woody Guthrie to come back, come back to us now.

He reminds us that "there's killers on the highway now, And a man can't get around" and goddamn he's right.

Bruce may not be Woody but you know, he may be the next best thing.

Goddamn, I am proud of that guy.

Christmas in Washington
Steve Earle

It's Christmastime in Washington
The Democrats rehearsed
Gettin' into gear for four more years
Things not gettin' worse
The Republicans drink whiskey neat
And thanked their lucky stars
They said, 'He cannot seek another term
They'll be no more FDRs'
I sat home in Tennessee
Staring at the screen
With an uneasy feeling in my chest
And I'm wonderin' what it means

Chorus:
So come back Woody Guthrie
Come back to us now
Tear your eyes from paradise
And rise again somehow
If you run into Jesus
Maybe he can help you out
Come back Woody Guthrie to us now

I followed in your footsteps once
Back in my travelin' days
Somewhere I failed to find your trail
Now I'm stumblin' through the haze
But there's killers on the highway now
And a man can't get around
So I sold my soul for wheels that roll
Now I'm stuck here in this town

Chorus

There's foxes in the hen house
Cows out in the corn
The unions have been busted
Their proud red banners torn
To listen to the radio
You'd think that all was well
But you and me and Cisco know
It's going straight to hell

So come back, Emma Goldman
Rise up, old Joe Hill
The barracades are goin' up
They cannot break our will
Come back to us, Malcolm X
And Martin Luther King
We're marching into Selma
As the bells of freedom ring


Were gonna kick some ass today, I believe it in my heart.