It's a folk singer's job to comfort disturbed people and to disturb comfortable people
Woody GuthrieRead
A folk song is what's wrong and how to fix it or it could be _x000D_ who's hungry and where their mouth is or _x000D_ who's out of work and where the job is or _x000D_ who's broke and where the money is or _x000D_ who's carrying a gun and where the peace is.
Interpretation
What this quote means
A folk song reflects societal issues and offers solutions.
Woody Guthrie's quote highlights the role of folk songs as a medium for addressing social problems and the struggles people face. It underscores the idea that these songs can convey the realities of hunger, unemployment, poverty, and violence, while also serving as a call to action or a means to seek peace and resolution in the community.
Themes
Folk SongSocial IssuesMusicCommunityPeace
In practice
Example use cases
At a community rally discussing social justice, this quote can be used to emphasize the power of art in enacting change.
More from Woody Guthrie
All quotes →The world is filled with people who are no longer needed -- and who try to make slaves of all of us -- and they have their music and we have ours.
Woody GuthrieRead
Nobody living can ever stop me. As I go walking my freedom highway. Nobody living can make me turn back. This land was made for you and me.
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It's round the world I've traveled; it's round the world I've roamed; but I've yet to see an outlaw drive a family from its home
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I hate a song that makes you think that you are not any good. I hate a song that makes you think that you are just born to lose. Bound to lose. No good to nobody. No good for nothing. Because you are too old or too young or too fat or too slim too ugly or too this or too that.
Woody GuthrieRead
Do Re Mi_x000D_ California is a garden of Eden, a paradise to live in or see,_x000D_ But believe it or not, you won't find it so hot_x000D_ If you ain't got the do re mi
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