Old Folkie Me

Some may find them merely diverting melodies. Others may find them incitements to Red revolution. And who will say if either or both is wrong? Not I. ~ Pete Seeger on folk music

Here’s another of those old photos I found while organizing my papers earlier this week:

It was taken at my oldest son’s home in Oklahoma on a trek west I made about eight or so years ago. Although it’s a bit blurred (obviously I didn’t snap the photo!) it is folk-singer me singing and teaching my son (lower right) and grandkids folk songs.

As I looked at the photo I was reminded of Harry Chapin’s song, Old Folkie:

He's the man with the banjo and the 12-string guitar.
And he's singing us the songs that tell us who we are.
When you look in his eyes you know that somebody's in there.
Yeah, he knows where we're going and where we been
And how the fog is gettin' thicker where the future should begin.
When you look at his life you know that he's really been there.

Still, what is the name that they're calling that man?
What is the name that they're calling that man?
You know, it's always the "Old Folkie"
They say he's always bleedin'
But whenever somebody's needing him,
He's the one who cares.
It's always the "Old Folkie"
Whenever somethin's burning,
Or a lesson needs some learning,
Or a tide that needs some turning,
To a better world somewhere,
Yeah, the "Old Folkie's" there.

Yeah, for forty years now he's been pushin' on.
Carrying the dream 'cause Woody's long gone.
He's the last voice singing that "Bound for Glory" song.
And if you never seen him you might take a look
He's the man who put the meaning in the music book.
Yeah, the world may be tired but Pete's still going strong.

Still, what is the name that they're calling that man?
What is the name that they're calling that man?
You know, it's always the "Old Folkie"
They say he's always bleedin'
But whenever somebody's needing him,
He's the one who cares
It's always the "Old Folkie:'
Whenever somethin's burning,
Or a lesson needs some learning,
Or a tide that needs some turning,
To a better world somewhere, Yeah, the "Old Folkie's" there.

What is the name that they're calling that man?
What is the name that they're calling that man?
You know, it's always the "Old Folkie"
Singing for some hopeless cause.
Shouting at the mountain top
The wind is his only applause.
It's always the "Old Folkie"
We don't know what we're missing
'Cause nobody ever listens,
'Cept the lovers as they're kissin'
Oh, he's singing for them somewhere.
Yeah, the "Old Folkie's" there. The"Old Folkie's" there.

Yeah, I know the song was written about Pete Seeger. However, now as I’ve myself aged to become an “old folkie,” I rather identify with it. (Like Pete Seeger, who I met briefly in NYC in the late '80s, I have owned and played not only a half dozen six-string guitars, but couple of 12-string guitars and a banjo or two).