Celebrate The Workers

Clockwise: Tom Waits; Bruce Springsteen; Billy Bragg; and The Hooters.

For Labor Day Weekend, I thought I would showcase some songs that spoke to the very people the weekend celebrates - the working men and women who made this country strong. In 1931, lyricist E. Y. "Yip" Harburg and composer Jay Gorney wrote a song about surviving the Great Depression, felt so heavily by the working class when the stock market collapsed in 1929. Harburg, who is now perhaps best known for writing the lyrics for The Wizard of Oz, including the classic Over The Rainbow. The result of their collaboration was Brother, Can You Spare A Dime?, made famous by both Rudy Vallee and Bing Crosby, both who had a hit, making it to #1 on the charts. But I decided to go with the version from 1976, sung by the talented Tom Waits.



The next song was written by Joe Hill in 1913. There Is Power In A Union was recorded by my beloved Billy Bragg singing from his 1986 album, Talking To The Taxman About Poetry. It is certainly self-explanatory, written and performed to show support for the labor unions.



In 2006, Bruce Springsteen performed a tribute to the amazing Pete Seeger on The Late Show with Conan O'Brien. He played Pay Me My Money Down, a song included on his 2006 album, We Shall Overcome: The Seeger Sessions. The song was thought to be a "work song" for the the dock workers on the islands off the Georgia Coast. It was also thought to be a slave song, based on old Negro Spirituals. It was performed by the Weavers at the 1955 Carnegie Hall Concert, bringing the song back to the public. Here is Bruce's joyous performance.



The final song I am offering up was written in 1961 by Hedy West, a folk singer/songwriter and strong part of the folk revival of the 60s. 500 Miles was first made popular by the Kingston Trio in 1962, who scored #3 on the music charts. It was also a popular track for Peter, Paul & Mary at the same time. It spoke to the railway workers who left home to work, and were often left on the road broke and unemployed by the greedy railroad bosses. I decided to go with a version by Philadelphia's The Hooters, a band I have always loved. It was on their 1989 album Zig Zag, and had background vocals by Peter, Paul &Mary.



Hope you are enjoying the long weekend, and remembering all the working people who made this country great!

Happy Memorial Day - Tender Comrade

For a Memorial Day Special, I offer Billy Bragg singing his Tender Comrade. The poignant and touching song first appeared on his Worker's Playtime album. Celebrate the men and women, gay and straight, who have fought to promote the rights and freedoms of ALL the people, not just the select few.

Here are the lovely lyrics:

What will you do when the war is over, tender comrade
When we lay down our weary guns
When we return home to our wives and families
And look into the eyes of our sons
What will you say of the bond we had, tender comrade
Will you say that we were brave
As the shells fell all around us
Or that we wept and cried for our mothers
And cursed our fathers
For forgetting that all men are brothers

Will you say that we were heroes
Or that fear of dying among strangers
Tore our innocence and false shame away
And from that moment on deep in my heart I knew
That I would only give my life for love

Brothers in arms in each other arms
Was the only time that I was not afraid
What will you do when the war is over, tender comrade
When we cast off these khaki clothes
And go our separate ways
What will you say of the bond we had
Tender comrade

Billy Bragg Fix

Hey, I just wanted to hear a little Billy this morning, so I just decided to go for it. I have had a such a crush on Billy since, well, the 80s, when my sister Kim turned me on to him. She was enraptured with the boy singing Greetings To A New Brunette, from the 1986 album Talking To The Taxman About Poetry. Soon, we went to see him a couple of times performing live, and I've been smitten ever since. It doesn't hurt he is very political, very outspoken, and, well, cute as can be. His songs can be very personal, but also very public. He did a tour raising money for AIDS groups in the 80s, along with Michelle Shocked. He believed in equality for all, something many in the straight community took a while to catch up with. Check out his song Sexuality, from the 1991 album Don't Try This At Home.



I still believe his 1988 release, Worker's Playtime, to be just utterly brilliant. As he was so good at doing, Billy blended together the personal and political, mixing Pop with Rock and sometimes Soul. And while he might take issues very personally, he never took himself too seriously, always willing to poke fun at himself. Even in his great song, Waiting For The Great Leap Forward, he manages to mock his own singing while delivering a powerful message.



Later, I discovered Billy started out as a punk rocker, wanting to fight the status quo, yet found a home as a singer/songwriter in the folk world. Another of my favorites from Worker's Playtime is Must I Paint You A Picture. It is one of Billy's pmore personal songs, and I just love it. This is a fan video recorded recently, Billy looking a bit older than in the other videos, which are from 20 years ago.



For more about Billy Bragg, check out his official website here. I think I might need to go listen to Worker's Playtime again. For the longest time, one of my prized possessions was a t-shirt from that support tour, and it finally fell apart. I think I might have to find one of those again...

Election Night Special

When exchanging email with my sister in New Jersey, she reminded me of the wonderful tradition here in Delaware. After you sign in to the polling place, you stand in line for an open voting booth. As you get ready to go in, you are announced. 'Howard Stump is ready to vote.' Makes the vote feel very special. The picture above is Vice President Joseph Biden placing his vote this morning. Folk Music has long had a history of making political and social statements, standing up for what is the best in the world. On the evening of the election, I thought Peter, Paul & Mary, The Weavers and Billy Bragg would be a great way to celebrate another election. Enjoy.

Peter, Paul & Mary If I Had a Hammer




The Weavers - When The Saints Go Marchin' In




Peter, Paul & Mary The Times They Are A-Changing




Billy Bragg - All You Fascists Are Bound To Lose




Peter, Paul & Mary - 500 Miles

Labor Day Special - Billy Bragg

I remember going to see Billy play live 25 years ago, on more than one occasion, loving his music and, admittedly, having a bit of a crush on him. His music was split between the politically active and the amazingly personal. Whatever he sang, it came from the heart, in the tradition of great folk music. And in the in the spirit of great folk music, I offer a clip of Billy singing this great tribute to the working man. Here is Power In The Union.



Bragg has been an outspoken opponent of fascism, racism, bigotry, sexism and homophobia. I still love Billy, including his latest album, 2008's Mr. Love & Justice. For more on Billy, check out his official website here.