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)
Last Train to Nuremberg
Pete Seeger Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Last train to Nuremberg!
Last train to Nuremberg!
Last train to Nuremberg!
All on board!
Do I see Lieutenant Calley?
Do I see Captain Medina?
Do I see President Nixon?
Do I see both houses of Congress?
Do I see the voters, me and you?
[Chorus]
Who held the rifle? Who gave the orders?
Who planned the campaign to lay waste the land?
Who manufactured the bullet? Who paid the taxes?
Tell me, is that blood upon my hands?
[Chorus]
If five hundred thousand mothers went to Washington
And said, "Bring all of our boys home without delay!"
Would the man they came to see, say he was too busy?
Would he say he had to watch a football game?
The song Last Train to Nuremberg by Pete Seeger is a strong political statement about the Vietnam War and the My Lai Massacre. The chorus, "Last train to Nuremberg!" repeatedly warns those responsible for the Vietnam War that they will be held accountable for their actions. The use of Nuremberg – a name synonymous with war crimes trials – as a destination for the train sets an ominous tone for this message.
The verses of the song pose a series of questions aimed at the individuals and institutions that enabled the Vietnam War and the atrocities committed there. The singer asks if he can see Lieutenant Calley (a key figure in the My Lai Massacre), Captain Medina (who supposedly ordered the killings), General Koster (who refused to conduct an investigation), President Nixon (who escalated the war), both houses of Congress (who funded the war), and the voters (who supported the war). In essence, he is seeking to hold accountable everyone who played a part in the war and its outcomes.
The final verse of the song proposes a powerful question: if five hundred thousand mothers went to Washington and demanded the return of their sons from the war, would the President be too busy to listen? This question condemns the President's indifference to the lives lost and celebrates the power of peaceful protest as a force for political change.
Line by Line Meaning
Last train to Nuremberg!
This is the last chance to prevent another genocide from happening.
Last train to Nuremberg!
Time is running out to hold those responsible for their actions.
Last train to Nuremberg!
We cannot let history repeat itself.
All on board!
We must all stand up and take action.
Do I see Lieutenant Calley?
Was justice truly served in the My Lai Massacre?
Do I see Captain Medina?
Were those who committed war crimes held accountable?
Do I see General Koster and all his crew?
Will those in power who permitted these atrocities be held responsible?
Do I see President Nixon?
What actions will the leader of our country take?
Do I see both houses of Congress?
Will our elected officials take a stand for justice?
Do I see the voters, me and you?
Will ordinary people be the driving force for change?
Who held the rifle? Who gave the orders?
Who should take responsibility for the actions of war?
Who planned the campaign to lay waste the land?
What are the true motives behind war?
Who manufactured the bullet? Who paid the taxes?
Is there blood on our hands as a society?
Tell me, is that blood upon my hands?
Are we each responsible for the harm caused by wars we indirectly support?
If five hundred thousand mothers went to Washington
Imagine the power of passionate mothers coming together to demand change.
And said, "Bring all of our boys home without delay!"
Listen to the voices of those most affected by war.
Would the man they came to see, say he was too busy?
Will our leaders prioritize peace over their own personal interests?
Would he say he had to watch a football game?
Will we continue to ignore the pressing issues in front of us?
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
Written by: PETER SEEGER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Rosa Iglarsh
Last train to Nuremberg,
Last train to Nuremberg,
Last train to Nuremberg,
All onboard.
Do I see Lieutenant Calley?
Do I see Captain Medina?
Do I see General Koster and all his crew?
Do I see President Nixon?
Do I see both houses of Congress?
Do I see the voters, me and you?
Last train to Nuremberg,
Last train to Nuremberg,
Last train to Nuremberg,
All onboard.
Last train to Nuremberg,
Last train to Nuremberg,
Last train to Nuremberg,
All onboard.
Who held the rifle?
Who gave the order?
Who planned the campaign to lay waste the land?
Who manufactured the bullets?
Who paid the taxes?
Tell me, is this blood upon my hands?
Last train to Nuremberg,
Last train to Nuremberg,
Last train to Nuremberg,
All onboard.
Last train to Nuremberg,
Last train to Nuremberg,
Last train to Nuremberg,
All onboard.
If 500,000 mothers went to Washington,
Saying, "Bring all our boys home without delay,"
Would the man they came to see
Say he was too busy,
Would he say he had to watch a football game?
Last train to Nuremberg,
Last train to Nuremberg,
Last train to Nuremberg,
All onboard.
Last train to Nuremberg,
Last train to Nuremberg,
Last train to Nuremberg,
All onboard.
Claude Virlogeux-Juncker
Para la memoria de mi tío abuelo, amigo de Durruti y Francisco Ponzan Vidal quien envió brigadistas al POUM y CNT / FAI https://cvirlo.jimdo.com/lucien-et-maurice-juncker/maurice-juncker-in-english/
To the memory of my great uncle, friend of Durruti and Francisco Ponzan Vidalwho sent brigadists to POUM and CNT / FAI https://cvirlo.jimdo.com/lucien-et-maurice-juncker/maurice-juncker-in-english/
A la mémoire de mon grand oncle, avoué auprès de la cour d’appel de Paris et de Riom, militant politique de la 3ème République, antifasciste, qui fit passer des brigadistes au POUM et à la CNT/FAI https://cvirlo.jimdo.com/lucien-et-maurice-juncker/maurice-juncker/
В память о моем великом дяде, признался в Парижском суде и Риоме, политический активист Третьей республики, антифашист, который передал бригадистов в POUM и CNT / FAI https: // cvirlo. jimdo.com/lucien-et-maurice-juncker/maurice-juncker/
為了紀念我的叔叔，向巴黎法院和第三共和國的政治活動家Riom承認了反法西斯主義者，他們將準將通過了巴勒斯坦權力機構和CNT / FAI https：// cvirlo。jimdo.com/lucien-et-maurice-juncker/maurice-juncker/
אין דער זכּרון פון מיין גרויס פעטער, באקאנט צו די פּאַריזער קאָורט און ריאָם, פּאָליטיש אַקטיוויסט פון די דריט רעפובליק, אַנטיפאַשיסט, וואס פארביי בריגאַדיסץ צו די פּאָום און די קנט / פאַי https: // cvirlo. jimdo.com/lucien-et-maurice-juncker/maurice-juncker/
JanieUnknownWriter
PETE SEEGER: A singer of iconic stature immortalized in the minds of many.
Lisa Defries
Immortalised in the hearts of many and his words are just as profound today as they have ever been ☮️
Radha Sen. Animal Welfare.
My aunt introduced me to this song when I was 12...
Though I didn't quite understand the content then I lovedhis voice n the song..😅
And it's remained one of my favourites 48 yrs later!🌿🌺
Roger Wiesmeyer
Yeah... the commitment to love and justice transcend the powerful lyrics. I've loved PS since I first heard him on th first season of Sesame Street ❤🍃🎵🙏🌳
Rosa Iglarsh
Last train to Nuremberg,
Last train to Nuremberg,
Last train to Nuremberg,
All onboard.
Do I see Lieutenant Calley?
Do I see Captain Medina?
Do I see General Koster and all his crew?
Do I see President Nixon?
Do I see both houses of Congress?
Do I see the voters, me and you?
Last train to Nuremberg,
Last train to Nuremberg,
Last train to Nuremberg,
All onboard.
Last train to Nuremberg,
Last train to Nuremberg,
Last train to Nuremberg,
All onboard.
Who held the rifle?
Who gave the order?
Who planned the campaign to lay waste the land?
Who manufactured the bullets?
Who paid the taxes?
Tell me, is this blood upon my hands?
Last train to Nuremberg,
Last train to Nuremberg,
Last train to Nuremberg,
All onboard.
Last train to Nuremberg,
Last train to Nuremberg,
Last train to Nuremberg,
All onboard.
If 500,000 mothers went to Washington,
Saying, "Bring all our boys home without delay,"
Would the man they came to see
Say he was too busy,
Would he say he had to watch a football game?
Last train to Nuremberg,
Last train to Nuremberg,
Last train to Nuremberg,
All onboard.
Last train to Nuremberg,
Last train to Nuremberg,
Last train to Nuremberg,
All onboard.
Max Brand
I still got that 45 I brought 30 years ago still among Pete's written song.
The UnknownCommenter
Cool song. Was expecting a song about Nuremburg trials but got a better one
Zack Smith
@Solaris Veritatis the point is that America, as a whole and every federal politician is just as culpable for My Lai but on a larger scale all war crimes in Vietnam, Cambodia, and that whole war, and on an even broader scale basically every war or foreign policy action post 1950
Solaris Veritatis
@Lauren K No it was about the My Lai Massarce during the Vietnam War, the Nuremberg was being referenced figuratively only.
Lauren K
This actually is about the Nuremberg Trials. It says we all should be on board and charged with war crimes ourselves because we pay the taxes that fund the wars.