Tag Archives: Woody Guthrie

Tom Joad: Woody Guthrie

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Woody Guthrie’s song version of John Steinbeck’s Grapes of Wrath as sung by Brooklyn’s favorite cowboy, Ramblin’ Jack Elliott. Phil Ochs fans might recognize the melody as the same that Phil used for his own song “Joe Hill,” but Phil was just following tradition since Woody had already stolen the tune from an even earlier song called “John Hardy.”

Thanks to YouTuber mrgildons

Railroad Bill

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Woody Guthrie from Oklahoma and Ramblin’ Jack Elliott from Brooklyn sing Monday morning about the legendary bad man Railroad Bill. They’re joined by Sonny Terry on harmonica, who if I’m not mistaken, takes a verse towards the end.

More at  Ramblin’ Jack Elliott – Topic

“Go To Sleep, You Weary Hobo”

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Woody Guthrie’s rendition of Goebbel Reeves’s “Hobo Lullaby,” a song about a heaven where there are no policemen around to harass anyone.

That’s David Carradine playing Woody hopping the boxcars in Hal Ashby’s film, Bound For Glory.

Thanks to YouTuber FreeNeverSaid

I’ll Be There

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Monday, Phil looking back at us, singing a song inspired by Steinbeck and Woody Guthrie.

“Wherever they’s a fight so hungry people can eat, I’ll be there. Wherever they’s a cop beatin’ up a guy, I’ll be there. If Casy knowed, why, I’ll be in the way guys yell when they’re mad an’ — I’ll be in the way kids laugh when they’re hungry an’ they know supper’s ready. An’ when our folks eat the stuff they raise an’ live in the houses they build — why, I’ll be there.”–The Grapes Of Wrath, John Steinbeck

“Some will rob you with a six-gun,
And some with a fountain pen.”—Pretty Boy Floyd, Woody Guthrie

Thanks to YouTuber HiddenFormula