Woody is one of my heroes. He stood up against wrongs regardless. He stood up against racism, the exploitative bosses and for equality and the rights of all people.
Tom Joad is one of my favourite songs of his. He encapsulated the whole of John Steinbeck’s superb book – The Grapes of Wrath – in one song. It is the story of the dust bowl – the people driven off their land by climate change and the banks – the exploitation, starvation, desperation and violence.
But Woody’s song was a song of defiance. No matter how big the enemy is you stand up for what is right. No backing down!
Excerpt – Woody Guthrie – Tom Joad
Ever’body might be just one big soul
Well it looks that a-way to me
Everywhere that you look, in the day or night
That’s where I’m a-gonna be, Ma
That’s where I’m a-gonna be
Wherever little children are hungry and cry
Wherever people ain’t free
Wherever men are fightin’ for their rights
That’s where I’m a-gonna be, Ma
That’s where I’m a-gonna be.
That’s where I’m gonna be too!