As a member of The Weavers, Seeger had a string of hits, including a 1949 recording of Leadbelly's "Goodnight Irene" that topped the charts for 13 weeks in 1950. He was formerly a member of the Communist Party of the United States of America and was a major contributor to folk and protest music in the 1950s and the 1960s.
Perhaps best known today as the author or co-author of the songs Where Have All the Flowers Gone, If I Had a Hammer, and Turn, Turn, Turn, songs that have been recorded by many artists both in and outside the folk revival movement and which are still sung all over the world. Flowers was a hit recording for The Kingston Trio (1962), Marlene Dietrich, who recorded it in English, German and French (1962), and Johnny Rivers (1965). "If I Had a Hammer" was a hit for Peter, Paul & Mary (1962) and Trini Lopez (1963), while The Byrds popularized "Turn, Turn, Turn" in the mid-1960s.
Early work
Seeger dropped out of Harvard (where he had been studying journalism) in 1939, and he took a job in Washington, D.C. at the Archive of American Folk Song in the Library of Congress. In that capacity, he met and was influenced by many important musicians such as Woody Guthrie and Leadbelly. He met Woody at a "Grapes of Wrath" migrant workers concert on March 3, 1940 and the two thereafter began a musical collaboration.
In 1948, Seeger wrote the first version of his now-classic How to Play the Five-String Banjo, a book that many banjo players credit with starting them off on the instrument. He went on to invent the Long Neck or Seeger banjo. This instrument is three frets longer than a typical banjo, and slightly longer than a bass guitar at 25 Frets, and is tuned a minor third lower than the normal 5-string banjo.
As a self-described "split tenor" (between an alto and a tenor), he was a founding member of the folk groups the Almanac Singers with Woody Guthrie and the Weavers with Lee Hays, Ronnie Gilbert and Fred Hellerman. The Weavers had major hits in the early 1950s, before being blacklisted in the McCarthy Era.
On August 18, 1955, Pete was subpoenaed to testify before the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) where he refused to name personal and political associations stating it would violate his First Amendment rights... "I am not going to answer any questions as to my association, my philosophical or religious beliefs or my political beliefs, or how I voted in any election, or any of these private affairs. I think these are very improper questions for any American to be asked, especially under such compulsion as this." Seeger's refusal to testify led to a March 26, 1957 indictment for contempt of Congress; for some years, he had to keep the federal government apprised of where he was going any time he left the Southern District of New York. He was convicted in a jury trial in March 1961, and sentenced to a year in jail, but in May 1962 an appeals court ruled the indictment to be flawed and overturned his conviction.
Seeger started a solo career in 1958, and is known for songs such as "Where Have All the Flowers Gone?," "If I Had a Hammer" (co-written with Lee Hays), "Turn, Turn, Turn," adapted from the Book of Ecclesiastes, and "We Shall Overcome" (based on a spiritual and later became the unofficial anthem for the civil rights movement). Seeger became influential in the 1960s folk revival centered in Greenwich Village. He helped found Broadside Magazine and Sing Out!. He was strongly associated with Moses Asch and Folkways Records. To describe the new crop of folk singers, many of whom were politically minded in their songs, he coined the phrase "Woody's children", alluding to his former bandmate Woody Guthrie, who by this time had become a legendary figure. He has often sung and is associated with the song "Joe Hill".
In the mid-sixties he hosted a regional folk music TV show called Rainbow Quest which featured folk musicians playing traditional folk music. Among his guests were Johnny Cash, June Carter, Mississippi John Hurt, Buffy Sainte-Marie, Roscoe Holcomb, The Stanley Brothers, Doc Watson, Tom Paxton, Judy Collins, Richard Fariña and Mimi Fariña, and many others. Thirty-eight hour-long programs were recorded at new UHF station WNJU's Newark studios in 1965 and 1966, produced by Seeger and his wife Toshi with Sholom Rubinstein.
An early advocate of Bob Dylan, Seeger was supposedly incensed over the distorted electric sound Dylan brought into the 1965 Newport Folk Festival, especially with the inability to clearly hear the lyrics. There are many conflicting versions of exactly what ensued, some claiming that he actually tried to disconnect the equipment. He is often cited as one of the main opponents to Dylan at Newport 1965, but claimed in 2005:
"There are reports of me being anti-him going electric at the '65 Newport Folk festival, but that's wrong. I was the MC that night. He was singing 'Maggie's Farm' and you couldn't understand a word because the mic was distorting his voice. I ran to the mixing desk and said, 'Fix the sound, it's terrible!' The guy said 'No, that's how they want it.' And I did say that if I had an axe I'd cut the cable! But I wanted to hear the words. I didn't mind him going electric.
Later work
Seeger achieved some notoriety in 1967 and 1968 for his song "Waist Deep in the Big Muddy", about a captain—a "big fool"—who drowned while leading a platoon on maneuvers in Louisiana during World War II. Seeger performed the song on the Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour after some arguments with CBS about whether the song's lyrics were objectionable. Although the song was cut from the Smothers Brothers show in September 1967, Seeger returned in January 1968 and sang the entire song. It was clearly an allegory about the U.S. under the leadership of Lyndon Johnson which was in over its head in the Vietnam War.
Another slight against Lyndon Johnson can be heard in his singing of Len Chandler's seemingly juvenile song, "Beans in My Ears" from his 1966 album Dangerous Songs!? in which he accuses "Mrs. Jay's little son Alby" (Alby Jay is meant to sound like LBJ) of having beans in his ears, or of not listening to the people.
In 1998 a double-CD tribute album was released - "Where Have All the Flowers Gone: the Songs of Pete Seeger". It contained contributions from Bonnie Raitt, Jackson Browne, Ani DiFranco, Billy Bragg, Eliza Carthy, Bruce Springsteen, Roger McGuinn, Judy Collins, Indigo Girls, Dick Gaughan, Martin Simpson, Odetta and others.
Pete Seeger still performed occasionally in public until his death, and for a number of years appeared at the National Storytelling Festival in Jonesborough Tennessee to tell stories, mostly children's stories such as Abiyoyo. He performed at MerleFest April 27-30, 2006 in Wilkesboro, NC.
On March 16, 2007, the 88-year old Pete Seeger performed with his siblings Mike Seeger and Peggy Seeger, and other Seeger family members at the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C., where he had been employed as a folk song archivist 67 years earlier.
In April 2006, Bruce Springsteen released a collection of songs associated with Seeger or in Seeger's folk tradition, We Shall Overcome: The Seeger Sessions. Bruce Springsteen performed a series of concerts based on those sessions, to sellout crowds. Springsteen had previously recorded one Seeger favorite, "We Shall Overcome," on the 1998 "Where Have All the Flowers Gone" tribute album.
Seeger lived in the hamlet of Dutchess Junction in the Town of Fishkill, NY and remained very politically active in the Hudson Valley Region of New York, especially in the near-by City of Beacon, NY. He and Toshi purchased their land in 1949, and lived there first in a trailer, then in a log cabin they built themselves, and eventually in a larger house. Seeger joined the Community Church (a church practicing Unitarian Universalism), is considered a famous Unitarian Universalist, and often performed at functions for the Unitarian Universalist Association.
Seeger died in 2014 of natural causes.
Awards
Seeger has been the recipient of many awards and recognitions throughout his career, including:
A Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award (1993)
The National Medal of Arts from the National Endowment for the Arts (1994)
Kennedy Center Lifetime Achievement Honor (1994)
The Harvard Arts Medal (1996)
Induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (1996)
Grammy Award for Best Traditional Folk Album of 1996 for his record "Pete" (1997)
Cryderville Jail
Pete Seeger Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Since old Oklahoma's sand hills you did roam?
Is it heaven's wide streets that you're tying your reins
Or single footing somewhere below?
Eight lovers they say combed your waving black hair
Eight men knew the feel of your dark velvet waist
Eight men heard the sounds of your tan leather skirt
Cole Younger was your first and the father of your girl
And the name that you picked for your daughter was Pearl
Cole robbed a bank and he drawed the life line
But I heard he was pardoned after twenty years time
Your Cherokee lover, Blue Duck was his name
He loved you in the sand hills before your great fame
I heard he stopped a bullet in 1885
And your Blue Duck's no longer alive
You took Jim Reed to your warm wedding bed
And from out of your love was born the boy, Ed
A pal killed Jim Reed by the dark of the moon
And your son Ed was blowed down in a drunken saloon
Then there was Bob Younger, you loved him so well
He rode with the James Boys out on the long trail
Well, they caught him in Minnesota along with the gang
And he died down in jail in the cell or the chain
You loved Mr. William Clarke Quantrill
And his Civil War guerrillas in the Missouri hills
He hit Lawrence, Kansas and fought them still
And when he rode out, two hundred lay killed
They say you could have, they whispered you might
Have loved Frank James on a couple of nights
He fought the Midland Railroad almost to death
Then in 1915 Frank drawed his last breath
They say it could be, they say maybe so
That you loved Jesse James, that desperado
Jesse got married, had a wife and a son
Was shot down at home by the Ford brothers' guns
Belle Starr, Belle Starr, your time's getting late
But how is Jim Younger, did you hear his fate?
He was jailed and then pardoned for all he had done
And he blowed out his own brains in nineteen and one
Eight men they say combed that waving black hair
Eight men knew the feel of your dark velvet waist
Eight men heard the sounds of your tan leather skirt
Eight men heard the bark of the guns that you wore
Belle Starr, Belle Starr, tell me where you have gone
Since old Oklahoma's sand hills you did roam?
Is it heaven's wide streets that you're tying your reins
Or single footing somewhere below?
The lyrics to Pete Seeger's song "Belle Starr" tell the story of the infamous outlaw Belle Starr, who was known for her many lovers and her involvement in various crimes in the American West in the late 1800s. The lyrics paint a picture of a woman who was fiercely independent, unafraid to take risks, and unapologetically sexual. The song depicts her as a complex figure, both loved and feared by the men in her life.
The lyrics go through the list of Belle Starr's eight lovers, painting a portrait of a woman who was both passionate and dangerous. Her lovers include Cole Younger, Blue Duck, Jim Reed, Bob Younger, William Clarke Quantrill, Frank James, and possibly even Jesse James. The song tells the stories of their various exploits together, including bank robberies, guerrilla warfare, and murder.
One interesting aspect of the song is that it suggests that Belle Starr was not just a follower, but an active participant in the crimes committed by her lovers. The song includes lines like "Eight men heard the bark of the guns that you wore" and "He rode with the James Boys out on the long trail," implying that Belle Starr was not just a bystander, but an equal partner in these outlaw activities.
Another interesting aspect of the song is the way it portrays Belle Starr as a sort of feminist icon. The lyrics celebrate her independence, her strength, and her willingness to defy social conventions. At the same time, the song acknowledges the dangers and risks that came with her lifestyle, suggesting that even the most free-spirited and independent woman can be brought down by the forces of patriarchy and violence.
Overall, "Belle Starr" is a fascinating and complex song that tells the story of a woman who was both a criminal and a legend. By celebrating her independent spirit and her refusal to conform to social norms, the song provides a powerful commentary on gender roles and social expectations in the American West.
Line by Line Meaning
Belle Starr, Belle Starr, tell me where you have gone
Asking Belle Starr's whereabouts
Since old Oklahoma's sand hills you did roam?
Enquiring where she has been since she left Oklahoma
Is it heaven's wide streets that you're tying your reins
Wondering if she has gone to heaven
Or single footing somewhere below?
Asking if she went somewhere below the surface of the earth
Eight lovers they say combed your waving black hair
Eight men were intimately involved with her, playing with her hair and admiring its beauty
Eight men knew the feel of your dark velvet waist
Eight men had a chance to touch her waistline clad in dark velvet, which shows how many men she enchanted with her looks and charm
Eight men heard the sounds of your tan leather skirt
Eight men witnessed her wild side and heard the sound of her horseback riding and saw her gliding on horseback in her tan leather skirt
Eight men heard the bark of the guns that you wore
Eight men saw her wearing guns and shot them into the air or at someone else
Cole Younger was your first and the father of your girl
Cole Younger was her first romantic partner and the father of at least one of her children
And the name that you picked for your daughter was Pearl
The name that she chose for the daughter she had with Cole Younger was Pearl
Your Cherokee lover, Blue Duck was his name
Blue Duck was her Cherokee lover's name
He loved you in the sand hills before your great fame
Blue Duck had an intimate relationship with Belle Starr before she became famous
I heard he stopped a bullet in 1885
Blue Duck died by gunfire in 1885
And your Blue Duck's no longer alive
Blue Duck is dead
You took Jim Reed to your warm wedding bed
She had a romantic relationship with Jim Reed and married him
And from out of your love was born the boy, Ed
Her son, Ed, was born from her love with Jim Reed
A pal killed Jim Reed by the dark of the moon
Jim Reed was killed by an acquaintance in the early hours of the night
And your son Ed was blowed down in a drunken saloon
Her son, Ed, was shot and killed in a drunken brawl
Then there was Bob Younger, you loved him so well
She loved Bob Younger deeply
He rode with the James Boys out on the long trail
Bob Younger was a member of the James Boys gang and often went on long trips with them
Well, they caught him in Minnesota along with the gang
Bob Younger and the James Boys were apprehended by authorities in Minnesota
And he died down in jail in the cell or the chain
Bob Younger died in jail while imprisoned
You loved Mr. William Clarke Quantrill
She was romantically involved with William Clarke Quantrill
And his Civil War guerrillas in the Missouri hills
Quantrill was a leader of a guerrilla force during the Civil War in Missouri
He hit Lawrence, Kansas and fought them still
Quantrill attacked and fought in Lawrence, Kansas
And when he rode out, two hundred lay killed
Quantrill and his forces killed two hundred people when fleeing Lawrence, Kansas
They say you could have, they whispered you might
It was rumored that she had a romantic interest in Frank James and may have been involved with him
Have loved Frank James on a couple of nights
She may have spent a few romantic nights with Frank James
He fought the Midland Railroad almost to death
Frank James had a long-standing feud with Midland Railroad and fought against it
Then in 1915 Frank drawed his last breath
Frank James died in 1915
They say it could be, they say maybe so
Rumors suggest that she might have been involved with Jesse James
That you loved Jesse James, that desperado
It's speculated that she had a romantic interest in Jesse James, who was infamous for his outlaw activities
Jesse got married, had a wife and a son
Jesse James was married and had a family
Was shot down at home by the Ford brothers' guns
Jesse James was killed by gunshot in his home by the Ford brothers
Belle Starr, Belle Starr, your time's getting late
It's time for Belle Starr to face the reality that she's getting old
But how is Jim Younger, did you hear his fate?
Asking how Jim Younger is doing and what happened to him
He was jailed and then pardoned for all he had done
Jim Younger was imprisoned for his crimes but was later pardoned
And he blowed out his own brains in nineteen and one
Jim Younger committed suicide in 1901
Eight men they say combed that waving black hair
Repeating the earlier statement of eight men who had an intimate relationship with Belle Starr
Eight men knew the feel of your dark velvet waist
Another reiteration of eight men who had the chance to touch her waistline
Eight men heard the sounds of your tan leather skirt
Repeating that eight men saw and heard Belle Starr's wild side while wearing a tan leather skirt, likely while riding a horse
Eight men heard the bark of the guns that you wore
A final repetition that eight men witnessed Belle Starr wearing guns and hearing them fired
Belle Starr, Belle Starr, tell me where you have gone
The chorus repeats, finishing the song
Since old Oklahoma's sand hills you did roam?
Asking again where she has been since leaving Oklahoma
Is it heaven's wide streets that you're tying your reins
Repeating the wonder whether she has gone to heaven
Or single footing somewhere below?
Ending with the same question if she is now beneath the earth's surface.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: A. LOMAX, J. LOMAX
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind