"I'm singing about old Joe, cruel Joe," the lyrics read. "He ruled with an iron hand / He put an end to the dreams / Of so many in every land / He had a chance to make / A brand new start for the human race / Instead he set it back / Right in the same nasty place / I got the Big Joe Blues / (Keep your mouth shut or you will die fast) / I got the Big Joe Blues / (Do this job, no questions asked) / I got the Big Joe Blues."The Big Joe Blues, by Pete Seeger, cited in "Pete Seeger Speaks -- And Sings -- Against Stalin, Ronald Radosh", The NY Sun, 8/31/2007
Well, blow me down. Pete Seeger, who could never separate his social mission from a lifelong attachment to the Communist Party, admits in song, and to Ronald Radosh, in a long letter, and discussion on the phone, that he should have paid attention.
Don't expect the chorus to be sung by Harry Reid.
Luther
2 comments:
And Pete better not be expecting an invitation to any hot cocktail parties in Manhattan. He's now on record as speaking against leftist dogma, although he may possibly get a pass because of his age.
A remarkable admission. One I never thought I'd see.
--W
Expect whispers of "senility" to start at those cocktail parties.
L
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