Ron Radosh

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November 10th, 2008 12:49 pm

Shut Up and Sing!

To celebrate my wife’s birthday, we went to a concert in Frederick, Maryland performed by country/folk singer-songwriter Nancy Griffith. Hailing from Austin, Texas, Griffith had a wonderful voice, and over the years, has penned some first rate songs, blending folk, country, rockabilly and ballads in her broad repertoire.

We went to hear her sing, not to be harangued about politics. Griffith could not stop herself from sharing her ecstasy at Barack Obama’s election victory and proclaiming that for the first time America was united and proud. I wondered if she is even aware that some 46 per cent of the popular vote went for John McCain, and that perhaps some of his supporters were in the audience? Well, she didn’t forget. She then said that at a previous concert, she said much of the same, and sitting in the front row with flowers for her, was a man she described as “looking like a football player” who clearly supported McCain. She had told the crowd that if anyone did support McCain, they should “get over it.” The man handed her the flowers and mumbled, “I’m getting over it.” Griffith’s audience cheered. Then she had to tell a really stupid Sarah Palin joke, one definitely not repeating.

Why do these singers, it seems especially those with ties to the folk world, insist on pummeling the audience with their politics? It’s one thing if they are known as political song-writers. I like much of the work of Steve Earle, particularly in his non-political era. But anyone who goes to hear Earle now knows what to expect from a man whose recent CD’s include songs attacking George W. Bush and who entertains on Nation magazine cruises. Like Pete Seeger politics is part of his personna.

But that is not the case with Griffith, or a guitar virtuoso and blues singer like David Bromberg. Friends of ours went to hear him this year at the Birchmere in Alexandria, Va., where he let loose with a harangue about the need to impeach Bush. I doubt if even those who agreed with Bromberg knew that was coming, or who went to hear him sing blues, country and engage in dazzling guitar solos, were looking forward to a speech about his political views.

These artists might take a tip from Bob Dylan. The great bard has always been foolishly portrayed as “the voice of the 60’s generation,” and it has been assumed he shared all of the New Left’s political beliefs and attitudes. The most incorrect take on him was to view him as a political singer or a “protest singer,” as he was often called. Clearly, Dylan was moved – who could not be- about the racism and the system of segregation in the deep South that existed when he was growing up. His first song, “Blowin’ in the Wind,” was a heartfelt response to that. But aside from some specific songs like the ironic “Oxford Town” and a few others, Dylan did not write many overt political tomes. His famous rebuke to his contemporary Phil Ochs, the leftwing singer-songwriter, was that “Ochs, you’re a journalist, not a songwriter.”

When Dylan gave an interview to his friends Happy Traum and John Cohen for Sing Out! Magazine in Oct.-Nov.1968, they asked him about the Vietnam War and suggested that perhaps artists had to take a position against it since it was, as Traum said, “their responsibility to say something.” Nancy Griffith and the others should heed Dylan’s answer to this attempt to get him to speak out on the issue of that era. Dylan said: “I know some very good artists who are for the war.” (my emphasis.) He went on: “I’m speaking of a certain painter, and he’s all for the war. He’s just about ready to go over there himself. And I can comprehend him.” Exasperated as Traum went on, Dylan told him “people just have their own views. Anyway, how do you know I’m not, as you say, for the war?”

Dylan wanted people then, and now, to respond to him through his music. He has refrained from making political speeches, or appearing at rallies. Joan Baez made that clear in her comments for Martin Scorsese’s documentary, when she said that people always ask her if Dylan will be joining her at a rally? They don’t get it, she said; Bobby doesn’t do that.

Will there come a time when I go to a concert to hear a singer I like, and not be told what to think? It is pure narcissism for artists to assume he or she will be cheered for their private political views? I wish they would listen to Bob Dylan.

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12 Comments

1. George Bush On Best Political Blogs » Shut Up and Sing!:

[...] Shut Up and Sing! But anyone who goes to hear Earle now knows what to expect from a man whose recent CD’s include songs attacking George W. Bush and who entertains on Nation magazine cruises. Like Pete Seeger politics is part of his personna. … [...]

Nov 10, 2008 - 12:50 pm 2. heather:

It’s like books, especially the thriller genre (my favorite kind).

I have loved Lee Child’s books, and have even gotten into the habit of ordering the hardcover editions. Well, no more. The last one is a political screed: the bad guys are (of course)Christian nutters; the good guys hate the Iraq War. America is eeevilll. And the book itself was borrrrring. When his readers piled onto him, objecting to the Political nastiness, he responded by insulting those readers as right wing whackos.

Robert Parker took up new age sensitivity and maukish feminism and has never recovered.

on the other hand, Thomas Perry has managed to sail on with books that are THRILLERS, fun to read, and no borrrrreing, insulting politics.

You know, there is a good saying: shoemaker, stick to your last.

And that goes for everyone, including singers, actors, schoolteachers, writers, painters, and carpenters.

Nov 10, 2008 - 1:32 pm 3. MikeH:

I used to be big Nanci Griffith fan – have most of her albums, have seen in her concert, watched her videos, etc., but no more. She lost me with her “I’m leaving the US if Bush wins” (2004)and other statements. It’s not that I’m upset that she and others have opinions contrary to my own, it’s that they have to be such classless jerks about it. Exactly right, Ron – Why piss off half your audience? OK, you want to make jerk comments about my candidates or my president, then you can be supported by the other jerks who agree with you. And don’t be a big crying baby about it and cry “censorship.”

Nov 10, 2008 - 3:13 pm 4. BOB COHEN:

Well done article on the political narcissism of left-wing folksingers.

We like Nancy Griffith too, and many of her songs, one of which she says she wrote for her ex-husband who had fought in Vietnam. In introducing it, she says it took a long time for her to recognize the heroism and the suffering of those who fought in that unpopular war, and seems to be apologizing for her own ignorance.

It is interesting that you mention Joan Baez. I just bought her newest CD – “Day After Tomrrow” – I listened to it in the car and could not last through the whole disc. First, her voice is very, very worn. Stephen Holden (NYTimes) reviewing her most recent concert was very kind to her tho he did note that her voice is worn. He said that her sense of humor made up for it. But in addition to that, almost every song is morbid – the combo of her tired voice (she thanks two, not one, vocal coaches in her notes, which are not in the booklet – that is just pictures of her – but under the CD) and the morbidity of the songs is just too much for this old folksinger and admirer of Joan of Dark who used to be Joan of Light and Love. Although she was always dead serious about what she sang, the lightness of her voice made the sad ballads of human suffering into paradoxes of joy as well as sadness.

Three of the songs are by Steve Earle, and he is the producer. There are also songs by Elvis Costello, Tom Waits, Eliza Gilkyson and others – but under her interpretation they all come out sounding the same – grim. In the song by Waits that gives the CD its title, we hear a soldier thinking that the enemy surely does not want to die any more than he does. If Waits is writing about the current war, I am not so sure he is accurate about the other side for whom death seems preferable to life.

Personally, although I voted for John McCain (please don’t tell the Blues!), I am excited that Obama was elected – from an historical perspective. And I do hope, following your Blog lead, that he rules from the center rather then from the Left. The ecstasy of the Obamamaniacs is understandable if a bit scary for it allows for no difference of opinion, or nuances beyond total acclaim.

But, as always, one has to deal with the arrogance of the Left who feel, almost monolithically, that they have the Truth and now are in ecstasy which goes beyond just feeling good that the country has in some respects taken a giant step forward. It is a very human, very religious, kind of feeling, but has little connection to reality.
Folksingers have a long history, from Joe Hill (who fought the Salvation Army by using their tunes and changing the words) on up or down (depending on one’s perspective) of preaching the Word of (not God) but The People (a kind of paganistic substitute for the Big Guy/Gal). That some of The People supported McCain – 46% – does not enter into the illusion of The People, Yes. Thank God (and The People) for your blog which seeks to bring us back down to the good old earth with all its complicated ingredients. Shalom, Bob Cohen

Nov 10, 2008 - 6:12 pm 5. Martin Berman-Gorvine:

The late Johnny Cash had this problem nailed many years ago: “Now this should be a lesson if you plan to start a folk group / Don’t go mixin’ politics with the folk songs of our land / Just work on harmony and diction / Play your banjo well / And if you have political convictions keep them to yourself.”

Nov 11, 2008 - 9:37 am 6. Sammy Finkelman:

Why do they do it? First, they don’y have very complicated polituical ideas and may ot even realize that their thoughts are controversial.

They think mentioning something is a good deed.

Nov 11, 2008 - 7:59 pm 7. Artists » Order in the Chaos - Hanoi, Vietnam:

[...] Shut Up and Sing!Nov.1968, they asked him about the Vietnam War and suggested that perhaps artists had to take a position against it since it was, as Traum said, “their responsibility to say something.” Nancy Griffith and the others should heed Dylan’s … [...]

Nov 11, 2008 - 10:11 pm 8. RightWingBob.com » An example that won’t be followed:

[...] Shut Up and Sing!: that’s the message from Ron Radosh to musicians who like to wear their politics on their sleeves and rub your nose in it. We went to hear [Nancy Griffith] sing, not to be harangued about politics. Griffith could not stop herself from sharing her ecstasy at Barack Obama’s election victory and proclaiming that for the first time America was united and proud. I wondered if she is even aware that some 46 per cent of the popular vote went for John McCain, and that perhaps some of his supporters were in the audience? Well, she didn’t forget. She then said that at a previous concert, she said much of the same, and sitting in the front row with flowers for her, was a man she described as “looking like a football player” who clearly supported McCain. She had told the crowd that if anyone did support McCain, they should “get over it.” The man handed her the flowers and mumbled, “I’m getting over it.” Griffith’s audience cheered. Then she had to tell a really stupid Sarah Palin joke, one definitely not repeating. [...]

Nov 12, 2008 - 8:30 am 9. jacob:

I also could not get through the latest Randy Newman album. I really expected better from him.He must of needed the money to put out such as bs cd.

Nov 12, 2008 - 11:09 am 10. Donette:

A couple years ago, my husband and I went to a John Prine concert – we’ve always enjoyed his folk music. We didn’t know anything about his political agenda – or care actually – we went to hear him sing. Between nearly every song John Prine took the opportunity to insult/bash George W. Bush. We finally walked out. Maybe we should have asked for a refund for our tickets – we went to hear music not a political diatribe. It was a very disappointing evening for us. I can totally relate to what you experienced at the Nancy Griffin concert.

Nov 13, 2008 - 9:12 am 11. Artists » Yunnan artists to perform in Hanoi:

[...] Shut Up and Sing!Magazine in Oct.-Nov.1968, they asked him about the Vietnam War and suggested that perhaps artists had to take a position against it since it was, as Traum said, “their responsibility to say something.” Nancy Griffith and the others … [...]

Nov 15, 2008 - 10:09 pm 12. The Blunt Matt:

Where are you people from? Folk music is EXACTLY that; a statement of the plight of people and their problems. Dylan sang about politics but interjected it rarely. He let his songs speak for themselves. Didn’t Republicans tell people to “get over it” in 2000 when the election looked a little more than fishy? And does GWB not deserve to be bashed? He’s done one of the worst jobs ever and is a traitor to his party. And a singer, actor, or whoever, gets to voice their opinion all they want. Isn’t that why we’re fighting a war on terror? Because they hate our freedom? Do you hate that freedom, too? Shut up and inform yourself…

Nov 19, 2008 - 4:26 pm