Woody Guthrie is on our minds this week as we prepare for a concert with Pete Seeger, Joe Uehline, Baldemar Valasquez, Sarah Lee Guthrie & Jonny Irion. The concert is raising money for a new organization Joe Uehline is launching called “Culture Works”, “dedicated to integrating art and activism in ways that help unite and inspire people to achieve progressive change.” He’s organized the concert around a “Tribute to Woody Guthrie”. Woody wanted to use music to bring people together and to help folks find strength and community. He wrote “This Land Is Your Land” as a rebuttal to Irving Berlin’s “God Bless America” and originally called it, “God Blessed America”. Well, it was the Great Depression and Woody’s protest song has become our unofficial national anthem. What’s this got to do with kids’ songs?

Woody’s children’s songs were written with whim and imagination, often while simply playing with his own kids. “Put Your Finger in the Air”, “Take You For a Ride in the Car” and “Don’t You Push Me Down” are amongst the classics that have been recorded and performed by generations of artists. Who would have thunk that the U.S. Postal Service would choose Woody’s song, “Mail Myself To You” for their holiday promotion on TV? They used a wonderful version by John McCutcheon from his CD, “Howjadoo”. You won’t find slick production on Woody’s kids albums recorded in the 1950’s, but you’ll find a dad who knew how to tickle the funnybone of his own kids and turn around and sing those same songs in a family concert, understanding what was universal enough to entertain all young hearts. his songs are all simple, singable and set a great example of the timeless nature of a good song. www.woodyguthrie.org for CD’s & info. There’s a whole section of Woody’s kids songs, including recordings with Woody, Arlo & the family. And if you are following Woody’s example, you and your kids will sing these songs together! That’s what they’re for.