Not sure if this really the place to post this but I figured I would share this recent experience and comment here.
This past weekend my son, who has really taken up and mastered the guitar, offered to take me out for a father son day. He really watches over me and really knows just when my spirits need lifting. Anyhow, to the point. With his new found love with music, learning the guitar, he has taken to folk music and invited me to join him and his friends to trade a few songs back and forth and I was totally amazed how much these kids actually knew about Woddy and Arlo and they wanted me to teach them some of Woody and Arlo's songs. I was also amazed at the questions they had. Why did woody write this song and that song. What finger picken style does he use and where did he learn it from? Just totally amazing.
All I kept thinking was that there really is hope after all. What really amazed me was how they were tying the lyrics to what is happening on in their world. It is truly nice to know that kids are really willing to explore music and the world around them and ask questions. Now I have them learning and getting into Leadbelly, Sonny Terry and Ramblin' Jack Elliot...the limits are endless. Who knows maybe we will see another folk music revival?
-Eric

Sounds like you raised him right. Maybe he'll go with ya to a concert sometime...

EPR wrote:

"All I kept thinking was that there really is hope after all. What really amazed me was how they were tying the lyrics to what is happening on in their world. It is truly nice to know that kids are really willing to explore music and the world around them and ask questions. Now I have them learning and getting into Leadbelly, Sonny Terry and Ramblin' Jack Elliot...the limits are endless. Who knows maybe we will see another folk music revival?"
-Eric


I think we are seeing it Eric. This is what happens every few generations, an exploration of where songs and music came from in the first place. Whatever is "pop(ular)" music to them can all be traced back to folk music.......and I think it inspires them to realize the organic nature of the process, that THEY can write about what is going on in their world and create a whole new generation of folk music. As Janis Ian has been singing lately (regarding the resurgence of folk music), "Folk is the new black........."

It is fun to watch kids who were playing death metal last year become sensitive folkies.

On the other hand....

We turn to the old songs in times when we can't make sense of the events unfolding before us. We become tribal. We set our boundaries nearer to our own hearth. Folk music is the expression, a side effect. What is the cause? Why are we in times like these?

Here is something to watch. Take the time to watch all of it. I won't comment on the accuracy of the evidence but the science appears to be sound. Ask yourselves, if this is right, what can an average person do? How should we react? Also, who and why?

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-4617650616903609314&hl=en#

Hey Larry, you may be right.

about what?

Everything.

I mean, who could argue with that?

Gods! Don't encourage him!!!!

May as well surrender to the inevitable inevitably. He's got... intuition. and ... powers. All I got is a snout.

Larry's not right...he's just got the brain cell. He won't let it go.

That poor brain cell.....it'll need some serious R & R after Larry's done with it

Trust me, it gets plenty of R&R since I don't use it much.........

Don't Bogart the Brain Cell. There's cogitatin' awatin'!!

It's always a good idea to do that before marrying somebody to make sure you're compatible.

I probably can't leave this on YouTube for very long but today it seems right to put it there.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ylaPz6qFp7I

It's Arlo. This is what folk music does best, IMHO.