It hurts me deeply and saddens me greatly to see the terrible, senseless carnage and lack of a decent humanity in the world … and especially now! … in this moment … in Gaza! ( https://geneva-academy.ch/galleries/today-s-armed-conflicts https://www.the-express.com/news/us-news/100145/us-most-dangerous-neighborhoods-fbi-data https://www.cnn.com/2023/09/22/us/school-shootings-fast-facts-dg/index.html ) … to at least some extent because of the stupidity!, complacency, smugness, greed, misguided states of self-righteousness, … and stupidity! … across the U.S. … from the bottom to the top. ( https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2017/02/15/u-s-students-internationally-math-science/ https://www.pewresearch.org/global/2022/05/25/what-do-americans-know-about-international-affairs/ https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/11/opinion/trump-cnn-town-hall.html )
On the other hand, there are many upbeat moments in my luck-filled* life. (*I hate the word “blessed.”) In a wonderful phone call yesterday dear Dr. Darryl Birkenfeld & I discussed some of the on-going and sustainably-persistent, creative things Ogallala Commons is doing in order to significantly protect the natural resource base! (OC does make significant efforts toward, and does realize accomplishments toward, socio-ecological justice … and I will forever thank Darryl for connecting me to amazing indigenous leaders across the Plains from the Taos Pueblo and other New Mexican Puelbos/pueblo to Kansas State University to Pine Ridge Reservation in SW South Dakota, etc. https://ogallalacommons.org/programs-2/stewarding-natural-resources/ ). Ambitious plans for some wonderful visitors coming from the Mato Grosso do Sul, Brasil to see and be with us here in Seguin, Texas are coming together! Some progressives here in Clean Seguin have invited me to some of their activist meetings as well as celebrations. Last eve Betsy and I lovingly enjoyed together some well-made, very entertaining, and educational programs on PBS/KRLN-San Antonio. And today it will be Homecoming at the football game against Carrizo Springs tonight in Devine, Texas with old friend and co-green-bean-picker and -watermelon-tosser from the 1950s, Robert Cruz (Brother Lawrence & I worked for his Dad, Tony/Antonio during elementary & junior high school years in the summers.) … Then Saturday (after tennis with some great buddies) & Sunday I look forward to grandkid-soccer games and the celebration of grandson Owen Zane Schaefer’s eleventh birthday in New Braunfels, Texas!!!
Despite all of this sort of goobledygood above, this post is supposed to be a selection of songs for playing and singing at a memorable gathering of “Bad Guitar Pickers & Singers” on Sunday evening October 22.
I first selected a medley of songs with which I am familiar by Little Jimmy Dickens ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RiBYhHlJmIo ), Hank Williams ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UDRzixp1Fvw ), Don Williams ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RqjDvEC1uVw ), and Michael Salgado ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cv1-TZsLb0A ). Neverthess, after watching the revengeful and senseless killing of young and old civilians in the Gaza by Israel yesterday (Many/maybe most of whom who were killed did not even support Hamas & its actions.) … and many other associated thoughts dealing with hopes for peace (Positively Ethical Applied Community Ecology/Peacemaking), I ended up selecting these:
Took my first breath, where the muddy Brazos, spills into the gulf of Mexico
Where the skyline’s colored by chemical plants, t’put bread on the table of the working man
Where the working man does his best to provide, safety and shelter for kids and a wife
Givin’ a little of his soul every day, making over time to keep the wolves away
Well I was barely thirteen when the company man, tried to dig my daddy’s grave
It happened on a French owned tanker ship, spilling poison into Galveston Bay
Where the liquid fire filled his lungs and his eyes, silenced any mortal cries
Cold and the grip of death stinging pain, he fought like hell to keep the wolves away
For the next few years dad was sick as a dog, but he made a recovery just to spite the odds
Settlement came and we moved out of town, where the sky isn’t heavy with refinery clouds
Yeah he’s still alive he’s doing good he’s in his fifties
But the moneys running out, and he’s pinching for pennies
So I’m goin’ for broke with every song I play, ’cause now it’s my turn to keep the wolves away
Songwriter: Kevin O’Neil Galloway
Well, I’m gonna tell you fascists
You may be surprised
The people in this world
Are getting organized
You’re bound to lose
You fascists bound to lose
Race hatred cannot stop us
This one thing we know
Your poll tax and Jim Crow
And greed has got to go
You’re bound to lose
You fascists bound to lose.
All of you fascists bound to lose:
I said, all of you fascists bound to lose:
Yes sir, all of you fascists bound to lose:
You’re bound to lose! You fascists:
Bound to lose!
People of every color
Marching side to side
Marching across these fields
Where a million fascists dies
You’re bound to lose
You fascists bound to lose!
Well, I’m going into this battle
And take my union gun
We’ll end this world of slavery
Before this battles won
You’re bound to lose
You fascists bound to lose!
Songwriters: Billy Bragg / Woody Guthrie
There’s so many things going on in the world
Babies dying
Mothers crying
How much oil is one human life worth
And what ever happened to peace on earth
We believe everything that they tell us
They’re gonna’ kill us
So we gotta’ kill them first
But I remember a commandment
Thou shall not kill
How much is that soldier’s life worth
And whatever happened to peace on earth
(Bridge)
And the bewildered herd is still believing
Everything we’ve been told from our birth
Hell they won’t lie to me
Not on my own damn TV
But how much is a liars word worth
And whatever happened to peace on earth
So I guess it’s just
Do unto others before they do it to you
Let’s just kill em’ all and let God sort em’ out
Is this what God wants us to do
(Repeat Bridge)
And the bewildered herd is still believing
Everything we’ve been told from our birth
Hell they won’t lie to me
Not on my own damn TV
But how much is a liars word worth
And whatever happened to peace on earth
Now you probably won’t hear this on your radio
Probably not on your local TV
But if there’s a time, and if you’re ever so inclined
You can always hear it from me
How much is one picker’s word worth
And whatever happened to peace on earth
But don’t confuse caring for weakness
You can’t put that label on me
The truth is my weapon of mass protection
And I believe truth sets you free
(Bridge)
And the bewildered herd is still believing
Everything we’ve been told from our birth
Hell they won’t lie to me
Not on my own damn TV
But how much is a liars word worth
And whatever happened to peace on earth
Songwriter: Willie Nelson
[Estrofe 1]
Por vezes dás contigo desanimado
Por vezes dás contigo a desconfiar
Por vezes dás contigo sobressaltado
Por vezes dás contigo a desesperar
[Pré-Refrão]
De noite ou de dia, a luta é alegria
E o povo avança é na rua a gritar
[Estrofe 2]
De pouco vale o cinto sempre apertado
De pouco vale andar a lamuriar
De pouco vale um ar sempre carregado
De pouco vale a raiva para te ajudar
[Pré-Refrão]
De noite ou de dia, a luta é alegria
E o povo avança é na rua a gritar
[Refrão]
E traz o pão e traz o queijo e traz o vinho
E vem o velho e vem o novo e o menino
E traz o pão e traz o queijo e traz o vinho
E vem o velho e vem o novo e o menino
Vem celebrar esta situação e vamos cantar contra a reação
Vem celebrar esta situação e vamos cantar contra a reação
E traz o pão e traz o queijo e traz o vinho
E vem o velho e vem o novo e o menino
E traz o pão e traz o queijo e traz o vinho
E vem o velho e vem o novo e o menino
[Estrofe 3]
Não falta quem te avise “vai com cuidado”
Não falta quem te queira mandar calar
Não falta quem te deixe ressabiado
Não falta quem te venda o próprio ar
[Pré-Refrão]
De noite ou de dia, a luta é alegria
E o povo avança é na rua a gritar
[Refrão]
E traz o pão e traz o queijo e traz o vinho
E vem o velho e vem o novo e o menino
E traz o pão e traz o queijo e traz o vinho
E vem o velho e vem o novo e o menino
Vem celebrar esta situação e vamos cantar contra a reação
Vem celebrar esta situação e vamos cantar contra a reação
Vem celebrar esta situação e vamos cantar contra a reação
Vem celebrar esta situação e vamos cantar contra a reação
E traz o pão e traz o queijo e traz o vinho
E vem o velho e vem o novo e o menino
E traz o pão e traz o queijo e traz o vinho
E vem o velho e vem o novo e o menino
E traz o pão e traz o queijo e traz o vinho
[Outro]
A luta continua quando o povo sai à rua!
“Una serenata por la madrugada” (or bad guitar picking & singing in the evening)
pbm
7 S’s / VV->^^