Irony Is Dead
Yesterday, various bloggers, including Steve, posted a wonderful YouTube video of Pete Seeger singing ‘This Land Is Your Land’. I hope you watched it then, since it’s no longer available: HBO has taken it down (h/t). If you click the video, you get the following message:
“This video is no longer available due to a copyright claim by Home Box Office, Inc.”
As Steve noted, Seeger included the two “radical” verses, which are often omitted. I think that Seeger et al changed the words somewhat in the performance, but guess what? I can’t check. Here’s the original version:
As I was walkin’ — I saw a sign there
And that sign said No Trespassin’
But on the other side it didn’t say nothin!
Now that side was made for you and me!
In the squares of the city — in the shadow of the steeple
Near the relief office I see my people
And some are grumblin’ and some are wonderin’
If this land’s still made for you and me.
Whatever you might think about No Trespassin’ signs generally, it’s a bit much to put them on video of a concert put on for the people, to celebrate our new President and our country. But putting them on this song in particular?
Irony is dead.
