Pete Seeger's 88th birthday was a few days ago. He wrote this song in the late '60s--it was about the Vietnam war and man, oh man, it still rings true today. I love Pete Seeger.
Waist Deep In The Big Muddy
by Pete Seeger 1963, planned for the Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour in 1967 but CBS objected to the blacklisted Seeger making obvious references to the"big fool" in the White House, finally sung by Seeger on the Comedy Hour in 1968 as the finale in a medley of anti-war songs
It was back in nineteen forty-two,I was a member of a good platoon.We were on maneuvers in-a Loozianna,One night by the light of the moon.The captain told us to ford a river,That's how it all begun.We were -- knee deep in the Big Muddy,But the big fool said to push on.
The Sergeant said, "Sir, are you sure,This is the best way back to the base?""Sergeant, go on! I forded this river'Bout a mile above this place.It'll be a little soggy but just keep slogging.We'll soon be on dry ground."We were -- waist deep in the Big MuddyAnd the big fool said to push on.
The Sergeant said, "Sir, with all this equipmentNo man will be able to swim.""Sergeant, don't be a Nervous Nellie,"The Captain said to him."All we need is a little determination;Men, follow me, I'll lead on."We were -- neck deep in the Big MuddyAnd the big fool said to push on.
All at once, the moon clouded over,We heard a gurgling cry.A few seconds later, the captain's helmetWas all that floated by.The Sergeant said, "Turn around men!I'm in charge from now on."And we just made it out of the Big MuddyWith the captain dead and gone.
We stripped and dived and found his bodyStuck in the old quicksand.I guess he didn't know that the water was deeperThan the place he'd once before been.Another stream had joined the Big Muddy'Bout a half mile from where we'd gone.We were lucky to escape from the Big MuddyWhen the big fool said to push on.
Well, I'm not going to point any moral;I'll leave that for yourselfMaybe you're still walking, you're still talkingYou'd like to keep your health.But every time I read the papersThat old feeling comes on;We're -- waist deep in the Big MuddyAnd the big fool says to push on.
Waist deep in the Big MuddyAnd the big fool says to push on.Waist deep in the Big MuddyAnd the big fool says to push on.Waist deep! Neck deep! Soon even a Tall man'll be over his head, we'reWaist deep in the Big Muddy!And the big fool says to push on!
Words and music by Pete Seeger (1967)TRO (c) 1967 Melody Trails, Inc. New York, NY
6 comments:
i grew up listening to pete's versions of old folk and bluegrass music. he was one of the few to set out and write the music down and print it, to standardize words to old songs. when i bought springsteen's tribute to pete's work, i knew all the songs and was happy to be able to share it with friends who had never heard of pete before.
jilly
Can't lie....never heard of him.
Pete is a god.. We have a foolish friend that passed on a chance to play guitar with Pete on a sailboat tour down the Mississippi. I think that remains the regret of his life. At least he got to meet him.
have always loved that guy -- thanks for the reminder!
Four
you have clank you just don't realise it, his stuff on radio 2 all the time and I know stew is a tig
Radio 2 is the pits. I have to listen to it in the car under duress.
I listen to Radio 7 and Virgin.
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