His most famous work is Alice's Restaurant, a talking blues song that lasts eighteen minutes and twenty seconds (in its original recorded version; Guthrie has been known to spin the story out to forty-five minutes in concert). The song, a bitingly satirical protest against the Vietnam War draft, is based on a true incident. In the song, Guthrie was called up for a draft examination, and rejected as unfit for military service as a result of a criminal record consisting in its entirety of a single arrest, court appearance, fine and clean-up order for littering. In reality, Guthrie, though a carrier of the genetically inherited disease Huntington's chorea, was classified as fit (1A); however, his draft-lottery number did not come up.
Pretty Boy Floyd
Arlo Guthrie Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A story I will tell
'Bout Pretty Boy Floyd, an outlaw,
Oklahoma knew him well.
It was in the town of Shawnee,
A Saturday afternoon,
His wife beside him in his wagon
As into town they rode.
There a deputy sheriff approached him
In a manner rather rude,
Vulgar words of anger,
An' his wife she overheard.
Pretty Boy grabbed a log chain,
And the deputy grabbed his gun;
In the fight that followed
He laid that deputy down.
Then he took to the trees and timber
To live a life of shame;
Every crime in Oklahoma
Was added to his name.
But a many a starving farmer
The same old story told
How the outlaw paid their mortgage
And saved their little homes.
Others tell you 'bout a stranger
That come to beg a meal,
Underneath his napkin
Left a thousand dollar bill.
It was in Oklahoma City,
It was on a Christmas Day,
There was a whole car load of groceries
Come with a note to say:
Well, you say that I'm an outlaw,
You say that I'm a thief.
Here's a Christmas dinner
For the families on relief.
Yes, as through this world I've wandered
I'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 outlaw
Drive a family from their home.
Arlo Guthrie's song Pretty Boy Floyd is a ballad that tells the story of Charles Arthur Floyd, also known as Pretty Boy Floyd, an infamous outlaw and folk hero during the Great Depression in Oklahoma. The song's introduction talks about how Floyd's name was well known throughout Oklahoma due to his criminal activities, but it also highlights his Robin Hood-like persona, which was instrumental in acquiring his legendary status.
The ballad then goes on to retell a specific incident involving Floyd, where he was accosted by a deputy sheriff in a rather aggressive manner. Floyd's wife who was with him overheard the officer's vulgar words and in the ensuing scuffle, Pretty Boy Floyd used a log chain to knock down the deputy officer. He then retreated to the woods and, from then on, lived a life of infamy, accumulating more criminal charges.
In the second half of Arlo Guthrie's ballad, the focus shifts to the more virtuous side of the outlaw's legacy, where numerous farmers told stories of how Floyd saved their farms from foreclosure and paid off their debts. A story of how he gifted a thousand dollars to an Oklahoma City restaurant, which in turn used it to distribute Christmas groceries to families on relief, is also narrated to highlight Floyd's generosity towards those in need. Through the lyrics, the song reinforces the message that not all outlaws are the same and that some may be driven to commit crimes out of necessity or self-preservation.
Line by Line Meaning
If you'll gather 'round me, children,
The singer requests that listeners pay attention to his story by addressing them like a group of children.
A story I will tell
The singer promises to tell a story that has a moral or lesson.
'Bout Pretty Boy Floyd, an outlaw,
The story is about a man named Pretty Boy Floyd who is a criminal and wanted by the law.
Oklahoma knew him well.
Pretty Boy Floyd was known to many people in Oklahoma.
It was in the town of Shawnee,
The story takes place in a town called Shawnee in Oklahoma.
A Saturday afternoon,
The time of day when the story begins.
His wife beside him in his wagon
Pretty Boy Floyd's wife is riding with him in his wagon.
As into town they rode.
They were entering the town when the incident occurred.
There a deputy sheriff approached him
A law enforcement officer named the deputy sheriff approached Pretty Boy Floyd.
In a manner rather rude,
The deputy sheriff was disrespectful in his approach.
Vulgar words of anger,
The deputy sheriff spoke aggressively and with anger.
An' his wife she overheard.
Pretty Boy Floyd's wife heard what the deputy sheriff said.
Pretty Boy grabbed a log chain,
In response, Pretty Boy Floyd grabbed a heavy chain.
And the deputy grabbed his gun;
The deputy sheriff drew his firearm in response.
In the fight that followed
A physical altercation ensued between the two men.
He laid that deputy down.
Pretty Boy Floyd overpowered the deputy sheriff and likely knocked him to the ground.
Then he took to the trees and timber
After the altercation, Pretty Boy Floyd escaped into the nearby forest.
To live a life of shame;
Pretty Boy Floyd was a criminal and would continue to commit crimes.
Every crime in Oklahoma
Pretty Boy Floyd was associated with many criminal acts in Oklahoma.
Was added to his name.
Floyd's reputation as a criminal was well-known in the state.
But a many a starving farmer
Many farmers who were struggling financially.
The same old story told
Shared the same story with each other about a stranger who helped them.
How the outlaw paid their mortgage
Pretty Boy Floyd helped pay the mortgage of these farmers who were struggling financially.
And saved their little homes.
His assistance allowed these farmers to keep their homes.
Others tell you 'bout a stranger
There are other stories told about a different stranger who did a good deed.
That come to beg a meal,
The stranger asked for food, indicating that he was needy.
Underneath his napkin
The stranger used a napkin to cover something he left behind.
Left a thousand dollar bill.
The stranger left a large amount of money as a gift for the people he received food from.
It was in Oklahoma City,
This story takes place in Oklahoma City.
It was on a Christmas Day,
The time of year when the story took place.
There was a whole car load of groceries
There was a large amount of food that was given as a gift.
Come with a note to say:
The people who left the groceries also left a note with them.
Well, you say that I'm an outlaw,
The note is written by someone who is aware of the negative reputation that outlaws like Pretty Boy Floyd have.
You say that I'm a thief.
They also acknowledge the fact that some outlaws engage in criminal behavior.
Here's a Christmas dinner
Despite this, the people who left the groceries still wanted to share their abundance with those who are less fortunate.
For the families on relief.
The food was intended for those who were experiencing economic hardship.
Yes, as through this world I've wandered
The storyteller reflects on the various experiences they have had while traveling in their life.
I've seen lots of funny men;
The singer has encountered many different types of people in their travels.
Some will rob you with a six-gun,
There are some people who will use physical violence to take what they want from others.
And some with a fountain pen.
Others use more sophisticated tactics to take what they want, often through legal means that are still unethical.
And as through your life you travel,
The storyteller is extending their advice to the listener.
Yes, as through your life you roam,
The message is applicable to anyone who travels through life.
You won't never see an outlaw
Despite the reputation that outlaws have, there are some who still do good in the world.
Drive a family from their home.
Pretty Boy Floyd, in spite of his criminal behavior, helped families stay in their homes during tough times and did not engage in actions that would hurt them directly.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: WOODY GUTHRIE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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