Arlo Guthrie is Woody Guthrie's son; Arlo was very popular in 1960's hippie… Read Full Bio ↴Arlo Guthrie is Woody Guthrie's son; Arlo was very popular in 1960's hippie communities for his lyrics, always looking for fun, chronicling the values of the day, sample verbiage "You can get everything you want in Alice's Restaurant" And Alice's Restaurant was also a movie as well as an album, Arlo Guthrie made the music for the film, devised it and featured in it. Woody Guthrie, obviously performing a generation earlier, was a folk-singer, singing solo songs to speak out for his fellow downtrodden Americans, as well as working children's songs, just using acoustic guitar, while Arlo had occasional, collaborating backgound musicians, such was the communal zeitgeist, adding to his sound and his much-acclaimed 1960's public stance.

Raggedy Raggedy
Arlo Guthrie & Pete Seeger Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Raggedy, raggedy are we
Just as raggedy as raggedy can be
We don't get nothin' for our labor
So raggedy, raggedy are we

Hungry, hungry are we
Just as hungry as hungry can be
We don't get nothin' for our labor

So hungry, hungry are we

Homeless, homeless are we
Just as homeless as homeless can be
We don't get nothin' for our labor
So homeless, homeless are we

Landless, landless are we
Just as landless as landless can be
We don't get nothin' for our labor
So landless, landless are we

Cowless, cowless are we
Just as cowless as cowless can be
We don't get nothin' for our labor
So cowless, cowless are we

So hogless, hogless are we
Hogless, hogless are we
We don't get nothin' for our labor
So hogless, hogless are we

Union, union are we
Just as union as union can be
We don't get nothin' for our labor
So union, union are we
(We're gonna get somethin')
Union, union are we
Just as union as union can be

We're gonna get somethin' from our labor
So union, union are we

Overall Meaning

The song "Raggedy Raggedy" by Arlo Guthrie and Pete Seeger is a powerful and poignant protest song that explores the struggles faced by marginalized and oppressed individuals. The repetitive structure of the song emphasizes the harsh reality faced by various groups of people who are continuously denied the basic rights and rewards for their labor.

The lyrics depict different categories of people such as the raggedy, hungry, homeless, landless, cowless, and hogless, each highlighting a specific form of deprivation. The repetition of the phrase "Just as [adjective] as [adjective] can be" emphasizes the extent of their suffering and underscores the widespread nature of these issues.

By repeatedly stating "We don't get nothin' for our labor," the lyrics highlight the unjust economic system that exploits and fails to compensate the labor of these individuals. The repetition of the phrases also creates a sense of unity among the various groups, as they all share the same grievances and sense of injustice.

However, the song takes a turn with the introduction of the word "union." This represents a glimmer of hope and a call to action. It suggests that through collective action and solidarity, the marginalized and oppressed can fight for their rights and demand fair treatment and compensation for their labor. The final refrain of "We're gonna get somethin' from our labor, so union, union are we" signifies a sense of empowerment and determination to bring about change.

Overall, "Raggedy Raggedy" is a powerful protest song that sheds light on the struggles faced by marginalized groups and calls for unity and collective action to bring about a more just and equitable society.

Line by Line Meaning

Raggedy, raggedy are we
We are in a state of extreme poverty and disarray

Just as raggedy as raggedy can be
We are as destitute and worn-out as one can possibly be

We don't get nothin' for our labor
Our hard work does not yield any rewards or benefits

So raggedy, raggedy are we
As a result, we remain trapped in our raggedy state

Hungry, hungry are we
We are experiencing extreme hunger and deprivation

Just as hungry as hungry can be
Our hunger is as intense as it possibly can be

Homeless, homeless are we
We are without a home or shelter

Just as homeless as homeless can be
Our homelessness is at its utmost extent

Landless, landless are we
We do not possess any land or property

Just as landless as landless can be
Our lack of land is complete and absolute

Cowless, cowless are we
We do not own any cows or livestock