How Can I Keep From Singing Pete Seeger

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 · 160 ratings  · 17 reviews

Start your review of How Tin can I Go on from Singing: Pete Seeger

I was quite moved past this book. It took me ages to read for some reason. I was decorated in general at the same time, and I call up autobiographies oft make me stop to await up sure things or to reflect on something if at that place were episodes in my lifetime. I am very glad I read information technology, and I did bask reading it when I grabbed the fourth dimension.

What I plant as a bonus in this book was a history that I didn't actually know. For instance, I knew nearly McCarthyism, just information technology isn't something that I actually studied. The sec

I was quite moved by this book. It took me ages to read for some reason. I was busy in general at the same fourth dimension, and I think autobiographies often make me stop to look up certain things or to reflect on something if there were episodes in my lifetime. I am very glad I read it, and I did relish reading it when I grabbed the time.

What I found every bit a bonus in this book was a history that I didn't actually know. For instance, I knew nigh McCarthyism, but it isn't something that I really studied. The section covering the accusations against Pete Seeger every bit being united nations-American showed me that some things never modify. At that place were many, many parallels to American (and world) politics today. That was both deplorable and frightening. At that place were many episodes from his early adult life that revealed an ugly, mean side of the U.Due south. that is office of the foundation of the ugly, hateful side that we can come across today. Withal, when the book was cartoon to a close, I felt hope. I cannot ascertain how or why. I think it was simply Pete Seeger'south eternal optimism that was communicable.

Pete Seeger was an idealist. At times, he seemed even naive such at the time when he went to the South and felt out of his depth. A lot of his career wouldn't have been possible without his wife, Toshi, basically sacrificing all of her ambitions to exist his all-circular managing director. Would that happen today? He took a very long time to acknowledge that things weren't quite right nether Stalin. Only hey! How consistent are we in our behavior and our beliefs? He was far more consequent than I think many of us could ever be.

Reading how a person stayed on the path for justice for decades is rather awe-inspiring. Many times, he paid a very high price for that. Maintaining his principles during the times when the Business firm Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) was after him was impressive, simply it did cost him.

Now when you read praise about him, especially from 2022 when he died (which was afterward this book was published), you tin can run across the hypocrisy peeking out from between the lines when people and institutions who wouldn't touch him with a ten-human foot pole dorsum in the 40s, 50s, and 60s, now stood in line to sing his praises.

Pete Seeger didn't desire to be idolised. That fabricated him very uncomfortable. Any praise directed at him was passed along to everyone around him or reflected back on the giver. It wasn't that he had a hard fourth dimension accepting thank yous. He just felt information technology was incorrect. He wanted the community every bit a whole to receive the praise - that it wasn't an private endeavour, only a customs effort when something was achieved.

All in all, this was a fascinating glimpse into the life of one person and the life of the time he lived in.

...more than

There is an updated and revised edition (2008) to this only biography of the legendary Pete Seeger whose undeniable ability to galvanise audiences everywhere to not merely sing together just promote social changes will forever earn him a significant place in American history.

This is a very good read for those who are interested in American folk music scene of the 20th century. Seerger was a controversial effigy in Am cultural and social/political history, yet his ultimate humanity shines through in

There is an updated and revised edition (2008) to this only biography of the legendary Pete Seeger whose undeniable ability to galvanise audiences everywhere to non just sing together merely promote social changes will forever earn him a pregnant place in American history.

This is a very good read for those who are interested in American folk music scene of the 20th century. Seerger was a controversial effigy in Am cultural and social/political history, however his ultimate humanity shines through in all her dark pages, and has earned him great honour justly deserved.

It also provides aplenty insights into Seeger'south motivation and longevity as a song vocalizer /composer / social activist, to name only a few of his achievements.

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May 12, 2014 Maryellen rated it really liked it

Great read. Every bit a child of the 60'southward, Pete Seeger was one of my favorite folk singers. And then interesting to learn about Peter, the man, non just the singer and composer of great songs. Great read. As a kid of the 60'south, Pete Seeger was one of my favorite folk singers. So interesting to learn almost Peter, the man, not just the vocalist and composer of great songs. ...more

I e'er take a hard time reviewing biographies. Its hard for me to separate my feelings for the subject matter from the actual skill in the writing, etc. I did not beloved this book. It was, well, generally ho-hum. This is a fairly rambling review, simply Pete Seeger, and music in general are pretty interwoven in my life.

My father (born in 1927) had eclectic musical tastes. He loved Chopin. He loved a few state ballads, and he loved a fair amount of folk music - mostly Peter Paul and Mary. Also comed

I always have a hard time reviewing biographies. Its hard for me to separate my feelings for the subject thing from the actual skill in the writing, etc. I did non love this book. It was, well, more often than not boring. This is a fairly rambling review, merely Pete Seeger, and music in full general are pretty interwoven in my life.

My father (born in 1927) had eclectic musical tastes. He loved Chopin. He loved a few country ballads, and he loved a fair amount of folk music - generally Peter Paul and Mary. Also comedy like Tom Lehrer. And then I grew up bustling along with a fair corporeality of folk music, though I certainly was never what I'd consider a 'fan' - I was definitely a child of the 70's, disco directly into punk and new wave. Simply then, around the time I left abode I found a wonderful "folk" music program on my local public radio station (broadcasts from the Ark in Ann Arbor more often than not), and all of a sudden, folk music was back in the mix. My musical tastes, if anything, are fifty-fifty more eclectic than my dads. When my get-go kid was small, I bought a collection of Pete Seeger's kid songs - we learned them all by centre in the car, and still make reference to them today, almost 30 years after. So recently after a phone conversation in which my son and I jokingly referred to a song from that quondam CD (Goodbye Ol'Paint, I'1000 leaving Cheyenne), I realized I knew nothing about Pete Seeger, though I listened to a fair corporeality of his music. In an endeavor to learn more, I acquired this book.

I certainly practice now know more. I like Pete the person less though. He really struck me every bit someone who never grew up. As a teenager, he seemed pretty self-centered and stuborn, and short sighted. Pretty typical for a teenager. When rarely, only, truly pushed to full anger, he flies into physical violence. Only Pete didn't seem to me to outgrow those traits.

I did like learning the history of folk music in North America. I guess I never realized that Woody Guthrie was alive every bit long as he was; I just always thought of him as a relic of the xx's and 30'due south. Not true. I knew Arlo was his son, and Arlo is not that much older than me . . . merely I'd just never been forced to recall about it. Woody died in 1967. Arlo is the aforementioned historic period every bit my husband. I appreciated learning about the US history from this perspective. It seems I tin can't option up a non-fiction book that doesn't involve HUAC these days. Which is an excellent affair, I'm developing a pretty full understanding of the 20th century in the US -- I have a history degree, buy my classes seemed to have stopped by some sort of unwritten rule with FDR and WWII.

While I experience similar I learned a lot history, and many "facts" I do non feel that I've gotten to know Pete Seeger very well. One of his friends (she became the atomic number 82 vocaliser of Sweet Dearest in the Rock) talked well-nigh how while she was staying at Pete's dwelling house she once asked him a simple and directly question about a plant in the yard - and he stared over her caput and gave her a lengthy emblematic answer that had zilch to do with her simple question. She said he had a hard time connecting "directly" to people. That's exactly how I feel about this book. It was interesting on some level, but did not connect directly to its alleged field of study thing.

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Jul 12, 2013 Karen rated it liked it

I need to confess, I didn't finish this volume. I got some interesting facts about Pete Seeger's past but found the writing to be so cumbersome as to totally preclude whatever further reading. I looked at all the photos and learned quite a bit about his wife who was the wind below his wings in so many ways. So, I simply stopped and returned information technology to the library for some guilty pleasure in the class of the latest Michael Connelly book - The Black Box. I need to confess, I didn't finish this book. I got some interesting facts about Pete Seeger's past merely found the writing to exist so cumbersome as to totally preclude whatever further reading. I looked at all the photos and learned quite a flake about his wife who was the wind beneath his wings in then many ways. So, I just stopped and returned it to the library for some guilty pleasure in the class of the latest Michael Connelly book - The Black Box. ...more

December 31, 2011 Jim rated information technology really liked it

The writing is pretty lousy, really, but the story of this American legend is SO powerful and compelling that the volume is still a great read. Dunaway seems to accept had full access to Seeger'southward correspondence and files, and I wonder why he makes so piddling use of it. Seeger is a liberal in the 1930s mold---communist actually, ultra pro-union, socialized medicine, big authorities. I'chiliad all for it. And the music! The writing is pretty lousy, really, but the story of this American legend is SO powerful and compelling that the book is still a bang-up read. Dunaway seems to take had full access to Seeger's correspondence and files, and I wonder why he makes and so little utilize of it. Seeger is a liberal in the 1930s mold---communist really, ultra pro-spousal relationship, socialized medicine, big government. I'm all for it. And the music! ...more

May 27, 2009 Linda rated it actually liked it

Pete Seeger is an amazing guy, living his life completely co-ordinate to his principles. Fabricated more meaningful because of our encounters with him at Jazz Fest.

Dec 17, 2012 kay rated information technology really liked information technology

Tells the Story of Pete Seeger. This man made a difference.

As a lifelong fan of Pete, this book helped me to get inside the man and empathize his passions. What a great American!

Took me months to get through this one. Dense and non great story-telling. Loaded with information, but it was hard to follow the attributions (notes were in the back).

I first heard Pete Seeger lp'south while I was in high school, where the library had a cache of folk music: Joan Baez, Odetta, and Pete Seeger. Later on, in Boston while in college, I immersed myself in the record bins of the Boston Public Library basement and WCAS radio shows. My first concert was Pete Seeger and Arlo Guthrie at the one-time Music Hall theater in 1975, and the Sweetness Rosyanne cut was from one of his scores of records was from that concert: https://youtu.be/wsI0zo30c4M Nosotros sang it as we exite I outset heard Pete Seeger lp's while I was in high school, where the library had a cache of folk music: Joan Baez, Odetta, and Pete Seeger. Later on, in Boston while in higher, I immersed myself in the tape bins of the Boston Public Library basement and WCAS radio shows. My showtime concert was Pete Seeger and Arlo Guthrie at the quondam Music Hall theater in 1975, and the Sugariness Rosyanne cut was from one of his scores of records was from that concert: https://youtu.be/wsI0zo30c4M Nosotros sang information technology equally we exited the hall on a cold evening. Those were the days! I thought I knew a lot well-nigh Pete Seeger.

Not so.

Seeking more, this biography was recommended to me by folksinger John McCutcheon. This fantastic volume filled in a lot of the blanks. His WWII service. His travels with Woody Guthrie. Living in Greenwich Village and founding The Weavers, and the occasional friction with Lee Hays. The persecution past the HUAC. The invaluable aid of his wife Toshi. His discomfort with situations requiring friendly conversation. 1 of my bucket listing dreams is to crew aboard the Hudson River sloop Clearwater for a summer -- Seeger had his own dream of having a gunkhole built according to celebrated plans and using it to bring people together, with singing and educational activity, sailing up, sailing down the Hudson and use the vessel equally a way to heal the river (https://www.clearwater.org/).

He was a complicated homo with a atypical gift: he could get people to sing. Heck, the audience was frequently the performer during his concerts. It was great to get to know him a little bit through this biography, and I recommend information technology without reservation.

...more than

May 25, 2018 Patrick Macke rated it really liked it

A fascinating, principled, disciplined, intelligent, talented American ... It is an exemplary life and an enduring musical life that continues to resonate, continues to bear witness, the pure ability of song ... Pete is a national treasure and the writer tells his story with well-researched perspective, a historian'south passion and an intellectual'southward marvel A fascinating, principled, disciplined, intelligent, talented American ... It is an exemplary life and an enduring musical life that continues to resonate, continues to prove, the pure power of vocal ... Pete is a national treasure and the author tells his story with well-researched perspective, a historian'due south passion and an intellectual's marvel ...more

I thought this was quite good and much less of a hagiography than I was expecting. Seeger was a man of immense talent and full conviction and he was present for much of the folk boom in the 50s and 60s, every bit well as several of the country's nigh significant political and social movements from the 50s on but he was not an easy person and I thought that came through really well. I thought this was quite good and much less of a hagiography than I was expecting. Seeger was a homo of immense talent and full conviction and he was present for much of the folk nail in the 50s and 60s, likewise as several of the country's well-nigh significant political and social movements from the 50s on but he was not an easy person and I thought that came through actually well. ...more

A bang-up overview of Seeger'due south life....it doesn't pull dorsum from criticisms of him, just makes clear the steadfastness and sincerity of his belief in vocal every bit a transformative medium. If you want to run into the range of triumphs and setbacks in Seeger's life, this is a good identify to get-go. My only criticism is that many of the episodes (and there were a lot!) are covered speedily. This is a good chronology, simply some depth would make for more satisfying reading. A slap-up overview of Seeger's life....information technology doesn't pull back from criticisms of him, just makes articulate the steadfastness and sincerity of his conventionalities in song as a transformative medium. If yous want to see the range of triumphs and setbacks in Seeger'southward life, this is a good place to start. My only criticism is that many of the episodes (and there were a lot!) are covered rapidly. This is a skilful chronology, but some depth would make for more satisfying reading. ...more

Aug 12, 2016 Lil Jen rated it really liked it

Having grown up listening to Seeger's songs from my family, this was a very interesting read. Having grown up listening to Seeger's songs from my family, this was a very interesting read. ...more

David Rex Dunaway received the outset Ph.D. in American Studies at the Academy of California, Berkeley, in folklore, history, and literature. For the last thirty years he has been documenting the life and piece of work of Pete Seeger, resulting in How Tin can I Keep From Singing: Pete Seeger, published initially by McGraw Colina in 1981 and currently revised, updated, and republished by Villard Printing at Rando David King Dunaway received the first Ph.D. in American Studies at the Academy of California, Berkeley, in sociology, history, and literature. For the last 30 years he has been documenting the life and work of Pete Seeger, resulting in How Can I Keep From Singing: Pete Seeger, published initially past McGraw Colina in 1981 and currently revised, updated, and republished past Villard Press at Random Firm in March, 2008. He has served every bit a visiting lecturer and Fulbright Scholar at the Universities of Northward Carolina, Chapel Hill, Copenhagen Academy, Nairobi University, and the Universidad Nacional de Columbia. Author of a one-half dozen volumes of history and biography, his specialty is the presentation of sociology, literature, and history via broadcasting. Over the final decade he has been executive producer in a number of national radio series for Public Radio International; his reporting appears in NPRs Weekend Edition and All Things Considered. He is currently Professor of English at the University of New Mexico and Professor of Broadcasting at San Francisco State University. " ...more

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