DO NOT KEEP THIS BOOK ON A BOOK SHELF
KEEP IT ON YOUR KICHEN TABLE, DINNING ROOM TABEL
SOMEONE MIGHT PICK IT UP WHO DOES NOT KNOW A THING ABOUT FOLK MUSIC




After reading some of Pete Seeger�s new book, Where have all the flowers gone. I find myself going back to it here and there, jumping around like I do. Reading the stories of how the songs that we all know and love came about, but also where it might of came from. If you have ever wondered how the songs like, This land is your land, Wimoweh, Turn,Turn,Turn, If I had a Hammer and a host of others, well here it is, right from the horse�s mouth as they say.
This book is a trip along pages of history that might very well not be taught in school. For me many years ago I learned I had to re-teach myself a part of history that no one was telling me about. Why is that? That question I am still asking myself.
And history is stories and how course people and with people come songs. All kinds of songs, work songs, songs mother�s sing to their children, walking songs, songs to sleep by, religious song, hell I cannot think of a circumstance in life when music in one form or other does not belong, it is life to breath in our lungs and to sing.
So this is a good book to keep around the house and go back to time and time again. It is a how-to book. I keep thinking some young kid who wants to learn how to play the guitar somehow finds this book many years from now and picks it up on a raining day lying on the kitchen table. He finds the pages where he can see the dots where to put his fingers. He finds a song he or she likes but is not sure how it sounds, so they might pop in the mp3 to get an idea. They try it over and over and maybe give it a try at a local open mike. A seed is planted and that I think has always been Pete�s idea. Here are the tools, and here is how you do it and good luck! And that�s enough because it will start a life long road. One thing leads to another and you look behind and you find 20 years or more and you are still digging into music.
Many years ago I was asked to be a director of a folk festival that had seen its best years. I accepted the challenge and in the 1st year we made a little bit of money. It was the 1st time in years they made any money. Well, after the board decided they did not need me anymore. I was so depressed and at times like this I would call Toshi Seeger who would patiently hear me on the phone. But she said something that I keep remembering and keeps coming. She told me, �Bill, at least you have made some friends.� And at the time I felt well that sounds nice but hell, all that work I put into that festival! But as always she was right and yes I did make friends who I still keep in contact with. So the point is with music you will always make some good friends along the way.
So this book is a gem for those who enjoy songs, history, and good stories. Feel free to dig in this mine anytime and you might find something to pass along to family and friends and you might hear, �Hey, I have no idea where that song came about.� And by all means, pass it along.