woody guthrie

Woody Guthrie – Nonviolence Peace and Justice through Music

By Elizabeth Marsden

About Woody Guthrie• Woody Guthrie was born on July 14, 1912 in Okemah,

Oklahoma – This year would have been his 100th birthday• He was named after Woodrow Wilson – the Democratic

Presidential candidate• His mother, Nora suffered from Huntington’s Disease – a

genetic defect that was passed on to Woody• As a boy growing up in Oklahoma, Woody learned to play

the guitar by ear• He married at age 19 and wrote songs about working

people• Woody Guthrie achieved fame in the late 1930’s singing

folk songs on KFVD Radio in Los Angeles, CA

Woody Guthrie’s Birthplace – Okemah,

Oklahoma

Woody Guthrie’s Family

This picture shows Woody Guthrie as a child with his Mother, Father and Brother

About Woody Guthrie

A young Woody Guthrie with his first wife Mary Jennings and their three children

About Woody Guthrie

• In 1937, Woody moved to Los Angeles, California; began performing on radio station KFVD

“Dust Bowl Refuges”

In 1938, Woody traveled to investigate the living and working conditions of migrant workers on assignment for The Lightnewspaper and wrote "Dust Bowl Refugees.“ Some vintage footage of Woody Guthrie performing songs about the lives of migrant workers can be seen at the link below:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tZoGOLvdMo0

The Ballard of Pretty Boy Floyd

In 1939, five years after the death of the Oklahoma outlaw Pretty Boy Floyd, Woody Guthrie wrote “The Ballard of Pretty Boy Floyd”http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G4YKUJZI5Bg

Pretty Boy Floyd Lyrics

Yes, as through this world I've wanderedI've seen lots of funny men;Some will rob you with a six-gun,And some with a fountain pen.

And as through your life you travel,Yes, as through your life you roam,You won't never see an outlawDrive a family from their home.

About Woody Guthrie

In 1940, Woody began his autobiography –“Bound for Glory”

It was published in 1943“My eyes has been my camera taking pictures of the world and my songs has been my messages that I tried to scatter across the back sides and along the stepsof the fire escapes and on the window sills and through the dark halls”

“This Land is Your Land”

In 1940, after tiring of hearing Irving Berlin's “God Bless America” played on the radio, Woody wrote his most famous song – “This land is your land”http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XaI5IRuS2aE

1913 Massacre

In 1941, Woody wrote and recorded a song about the deaths of immigrant copper miners and their children in Calumet, Michigan, on Christmas Eve in 1913. The song was first appeared on “Struggle Number 1”, an album of labor songs.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BxxKWGTtjNM

Seventy three people died in the Italian Hall massacre on Christmas Eve – 1913Many of the dead were childrenThis photograph shows the bodies of some of the children who died in the fire.

1913 Massacre

Woody Guthrie and the Almanac Singers

In the summer of 1941, Woody joined the Almanac Singers in New York for a cross-country summer tour

Woody Guthrie and The Second World War

Although Woody had dedicated his life to the plight of working men and women and had strong views on nonviolence, he strongly supported the war against fascism. He had the words “This machine kills fascists” painted onto his guitar.He enlisted in the Merchant Marines in 1943 He was drafted into the army in 1945 as the Second World War was ending

Woody Guthrie and NonviolenceWoody Guthrie was a paradox. He believed in nonviolence to accomplish social justice, but had the words "This machine kills fascists" painted on his guitar. He was a product of his time. The Second World War set the stage for a more enlightened world. His passion was social injustice and he believed in using his music and words to achieve equality by nonviolent means.

Woody Guthrie and Nonviolence

Woody Guthrie’s belief in nonviolence is expressed in the songs he wrote and in the very fact that he sought to achieve social and economic equality in the United States through music. One his songs titled “I’ve Got to Know” sums up his views on violence.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lyo_Hilxlj0

“I’ve Got to Know”

I've got to know, yes, I've got to know, friend; Hungry lips ask me wherever I go! Comrades and friends all falling around meI've got to know, yes, I've got to know.Why do your war boats ride on my waters? Why do your death bombs fall from my skies? Why do you burn my farm and my town down? I've got to know, friend, I've got to know!What makes your boats haul death to my people? Nitro blockbusters, big cannons and guns? Why doesn't your ship bring food and some clothing? I've sure got to know, folks, I've sure got to know!

“I’ve Got to Know” Why can't my two hands get a good pay job? I can still plow, plant, I can still sow! Why did your lawbook chase me off my good land?I'd sure like to know, friend, I've just got to know!What good work did you do, sir, I'd like to ask you, To give you my money right out of my hands? I built your big house here to hide from my people, Why you crave to hide so, I'd love to know!You keep me in jail and you lock me in prison, Your hospital's jammed and your crazyhouse full, What made your cop kill my trade union worker? You'll hafta talk plain 'cause I sure have to know!Why can't I get work and cash my big paycheck? Why can't I buy things in your place and your store? Why do you close my plant down and starve all my buddies? I'm asking you, sir, 'cause I've sure got to know!

Children’s Songs

In 1946, Woody began writing and performing children’s songsOne of the most memorable is “The Car Song”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DUDtFdnn9oQ

Woody and Friends

• Woody Guthrie sang with many of the legendary folk performers of the 1940’s. This photograph shows Woody with Cisco Houston

Woody and Friends

Woody Guthrie and Lead Belly

Woody and Friends

Woody Guthrie and Burl Ives

Woody and Friends

Woody and Pete Seeger

Woody Guthrie and Social Justice

Woody Guthrie experienced the Great Depression and the Dust Bowl. He saw first hand the misery of the people it affected. His youth in rural Oklahoma and Texas and his experiences with migrant workers in California moved him to dedicate his life and music to the struggle for economic and social justice in America.

“Dust Bowl Refuge”

I’m a dust bowl refugee,Just a dust bowl refugee,From that dust bowl to the peach bowl,Now that peach fuzz is a-killin' me.Cross the mountains to the sea,Come the wife and kids and me.It's a hot old dusty highwayFor a dust bowl refugee. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N_ehYkr0NhU

Woody Guthrie and Social Justice

On January 28, 1948, a plane carrying 28 Mexican farm workers who being deported to Mexico crashed near Los Gatos canyon near Coalinga CA. Woody was touched by the tragedy and wrote a song called "Deportee (Plane Wreck at Los Gatos)“. In this link, the song is sung by Woody’s son, Arlo. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c2eO65BqxBE

Woody Guthrie and Social Justice

“This Land is your Land” – forgotten verse:

“In the shadow of the steeple, I saw my peopleBy the relief office, I seen my people;As they stood there hungry, I stood there askingIs this land made for you and me?”

Recognition of Woody Guthrie’s Commitment to Social Justice

A plaque from the Woody Guthrie archives at the John F. Kennedy Center in Washington, DC proclaims that it “recognizes the exceptional contributions made by Woody Guthrie which reflect a deep personal commitment to the struggle for economic and social justice in America”

Woody Guthrie – Marriages and Tragedy

• In 1945, Woody married his second wife, Marjorie Mazia while on furlough from the army

• They had a daughter, Cathy Ann who died in a fire in 1947

• In 1952, Woody was diagnosed with Huntington’s Chorea

• He was married again in 1953 to Anneke Van Kirk – they divorced in 1956

Inspired by Woody Guthrie

Many of the folk music performers of the 1960’s were inspired by Woody Guthrie – most notably Bob Dylan

Woody Guthrie’s Death

• Between the years 1956 and 1967, Woody wasted away from the degenerative disease

• In 1961, a very young Bob Dylan visited Woody at the Brooklyn State Hospital

• Bob Dylan was inspired by Woody Guthrie and his music

• Woody died in New York in 1967 at the age of 55

Woody Guthrie – 1912 - 1967 “My Peace”

My peace my peace is all I've got that I can give to youMy peace is all I ever had that's all I ever knewI give my peace to green and black and red and white and blueMy peace my peace is all I've got that I can give to you

My peace, my peace is all I've got and all I've ever knownMy peace is worth a thousand times more than anything I ownI pass my peace around and about 'cross hands of every hue;I guess my peace is justa 'bout all I've got to give to you

Woody Guthrie Statue – Okemah, Oklahoma