The band's name derives from banjoist Leonard Podolak's earlier band Scruj MacDuhk (pronounced Scrugg MachDuke). MacDuhk was a warrior chieftain who fought with William Wallace, resisting English occupation of Scotland, during the reign of King Edward I. The entire name is a wordplay on the Disney character Scrooge McDuck created by Carl Barks.
In March of 2007 lead singer and budding songwriter Jessee Havey left the band to pursue other interests. Singer Sarah Dugas joined the band in July of 2007 and is on the road with The Duhks.
In late 2007, percussionist Scott Senior left the band to spend more time with his family, as his partner, Tara Beckta, was expecting their second child. Christian Dugas, Sarah's brother and a former bandmate of Leonard Podolak, has since joined The Duhks. Other members are fiddler Tania Elizabeth and guitarist Jordan McConnell.
In October 2007 The Duhks Sustainability Project http://www.greenduhks.com was launched to raise awareness about ways to live a more economically-viable and ecologically-sustainable lifestyle. In April 2008, The Duhks performed a post Earth Day benefit in Nederland, Colorado.
In spring 2016, the band announced that they would no longer be touring. They have not released any new music since 2014.
http://www.duhks.com
Your Daughters and Your Sons Jean's Reel
The Duhks Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And they tore your paintings down
They wouldn't read your writing
And they banned you from the town
But they couldn't stop you dreaming
And a victory you have won
For you sowed the seeds of freedom
In your daughters and your sons
Your weary smile it proudly hides
The chain marks on your hands
As you bravely strive to realize
The rights of everyman
And though your body's bent and low
A victory you have won
For you sowed the seeds of justice
In your daughters and your sons
In your daughters and your sons
Your daughters and your sons
You sowed the seeds of justice
In your daughters and your sons
I don't know your religion
But one day I heard you pray
For a world where everyone can work
And children they can play
And though you never got your share
Of the victories you have won
For you sowed the seeds of equality
In your daughters and your sons
In your daughters and your sons
Your daughters and your sons
You sowed the seeds of equality
In your daughters and your sons
They taunted you in Belfast
And they tortured you in Spain
And in the Warsaw ghetto
Where they tied you up in chains
In Vietnam and Chile
Where they came with tanks and guns
It's there you sowed the seeds of peace
In your daughters and your sons
In your daughters and your sons
Your daughters and your sons
There you sowed the seeds of peace
In your daughters and your sons
Now your music's playing
And the writing's on the wall
And the dreams that you have painted
Can be seen by one and all
Now you've got them thinking
And the future's just begun
Where you sowed the seeds of freedom
In your daughters and your sons
In your daughters and your sons
In your daughters and your sons
Sowed the seeds of freedom
In your daughters and your sons
In your daughters and your sons
In your daughters and your sons
Sowed the seeds of freedom
In your daughters and your sons
The Duhks’ song “Your Daughters and Your Sons Jean’s Reel” is a tribute to the people who have tirelessly fought for freedom, justice, equality, and peace. The lyrics acknowledge the struggles and sacrifices of these people who have been persecuted and vilified for their beliefs and actions. They have been silenced, their works banned or destroyed, but they remained steadfast and true to their dreams. The song celebrates their legacy of sowing the seeds of change that have borne fruit in the present and will continue to do so in the future.
The first verse talks about how some people refused to acknowledge and appreciate the art, music, and writings of the oppressed. They tried to suppress their expression of ideas and beliefs by banning their works, and even ostracizing them from their communities. However, this did not stop the oppressed from pursuing their dreams of freedom. They continued to dream and eventually won a victory by planting the seeds of change in their children. The second verse praises the bravery and endurance of the oppressed, who bore the marks of chains and scars from abuse but still fought for the rights of every man, and whose children now reap the benefits of their efforts. The third verse recognizes the spiritual dimension of the struggle for freedom, where those who have been wronged prayed for a world where everyone can work and children can play. They fought for equality, despite never getting their share of victories, and again passed those values to their children.
Overall, the lyrics of “Your Daughters and Your Sons Jean’s Reel” are meant to inspire and remind listeners of the sacrifices and valiant struggles of those who have fought for change. The song encourages people to continue the legacy of these rights activists, fighting against injustice and oppression, and sowing the seeds of positive change.
Line by Line Meaning
They wouldn't hear your music
Your music was not appreciated by those in power
And they tore your paintings down
Your art was destroyed by those who did not understand it
They wouldn't read your writing
Your writing was censored or ignored
And they banned you from the town
You were not allowed to be in certain places due to your beliefs or actions
But they couldn't stop you dreaming
You continued to have hope and aspirations despite adversity
And a victory you have won
You achieved success in your pursuit of freedom
For you sowed the seeds of freedom
Your actions and beliefs inspired future generations to fight for their own freedoms
In your daughters and your sons
You instilled this desire for freedom in your children and other young people
Your weary smile it proudly hides
You may be tired, but you still hold onto your beliefs and values
The chain marks on your hands
You have been physically restrained or imprisoned for your beliefs
As you bravely strive to realize
You continue to fight for your cause despite adversity
The rights of everyman
You work towards equality and justice for all people
And though your body's bent and low
You may be physically worn down, but you continue to fight for justice
For you sowed the seeds of justice
Your actions and beliefs inspired future generations to fight for equality and justice
I don't know your religion
The singer is not concerned with the individual's religion
But one day I heard you pray
The artist witnessed the individual's dedication to their cause
For a world where everyone can work
You envision a world where everyone has access to opportunities
And children they can play
You value the importance of allowing children to have a childhood
And though you never got your share
You did not always receive the recognition or rewards for your efforts
Of the victories you have won
You achieved success in your pursuit of equality and justice
For you sowed the seeds of equality
Your actions and beliefs inspired future generations to fight for equal treatment for all people
They taunted you in Belfast
You faced opposition and ridicule in Belfast
And they tortured you in Spain
You were subjected to physical abuse in Spain
And in the Warsaw ghetto
You faced oppression and persecution in the Warsaw ghetto
Where they tied you up in chains
You were physically restrained for your beliefs and actions
In Vietnam and Chile
You opposed the war in Vietnam and the dictatorship in Chile
Where they came with tanks and guns
You faced violent opposition in Vietnam and Chile
It's there you sowed the seeds of peace
Your actions and beliefs inspired future generations to fight for peace and nonviolence
Now your music's playing
Your message is being heard and your efforts are being recognized
And the writing's on the wall
Your beliefs and values have become widely accepted
And the dreams that you have painted
Your hopes and aspirations have become a reality
Can be seen by one and all
Your achievements and successes are evident to everyone
Now you've got them thinking
Your actions and beliefs have inspired others to think differently
And the future's just begun
There is still much work to be done to achieve a better future for all
Contributed by Dylan S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.