Prophet Singer: The Voice and Vision of Woody Guthrie
2010; Western States Folklore Society; Volume: 69; Linguagem: Inglês
ISSN
2325-811X
Autores Tópico(s)Poetry Analysis and Criticism
ResumoProphet Singer: The Voice and Vision of Woody Guthrie. By Mark Allan Jackson. (Jackson: University Press of Mississippi, 2007. Pp. ? + 310, acknowledgments, introduction, photographs, illustrations, notes, index. $50.00 cloth, $25.00 paper.)Mark Allen Jackson's study, Prophet Singer: The Voice and. Vision of Woody Guthrie, brings together important information about many of Woody Guthrie's songs. The prologue's subtitle, Giving a Voice to Living Songs, states author's theme, and he discusses different opinions about Woody's influence in literature. is not a biography, although much information about Woody's background and life is provided. In his thorough examination of Woody Guthrie Archives in New York City, Folklife Archives in Library of Congress, Ralph Rinzler Archives in Smithsonian Institution Center for Folklife and Cultural History, and other collections, author has identified historical and political settings of specific song genres (two not included are children's songs and cowboy songs), which are taken up chapter by chapter and exemplified by particular Guthrie songs. The author does not, however, attempt to touch upon each of thousands of songs Woody wrote, and throughout book are illustrations by Woody, along with historic photographs.The opening chapter offers a detailed account of This Land Is Your Land, Woody's best-known song - it is the main means through which American people have encountered Guthrie's voice and vision (21 ) . Irving Berlin's patriotic song God Bless had been made into an immensely popular 1938 recording by Kate Smith. Woody did not like God Bless America, perceiving that it excluded poor, disenfranchised, and working man, so in early 1940 he wrote God Blessed America, with God blessed America for me as last line in each verse. Jackson says that tune possibly came from a popular Carter Family gospel song, This World Is On Fire. I have collected and studied Woody's songs and writings for more than fifty years, and I can vouch for that. The tune is an adaptation of Carter Family song. Jackson shows in his coverage of other songs that Woody did not compose melodies; he adapted melodies. After writing lyrics, Woody set God Blessed aside until Moses Asch encouraged him to change line God blessed America for me to This land was made for you and me, and result was worldwide popularity for song.In chapter titled Busted, Disgusted, Down and Out, on Woody's portrayal of problems and dismal life many agricultural workers and their families experienced during 1930s, Jackson shows how songs heard by Woody during his childhood (traditional and country songs sympathetic to working folks) became foundations for many of songs he wrote in Dust Bowl period and later. …
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