For most people music plays an extremely vital part of
our lives. We chronicle the major events in our lives by associating them with
songs. We can remember the tune that was playing during our first kiss or at our
wedding. Specific pieces of music are tired to birthdays, weddings graduations
and even funerals. For those of us who were born in the early fifties the music
that shaped our lives came around in the sixties. As with most popular music it
reflected what was going on in the world around us. To understand our music from
then you have to put it into context with what was going on then. This was one
of the most turbulent times possible with society in upheaval. You could not
turn on the TV or read a newspaper without coming across stories about protests.
There were marches to demonstrate against the unfair laws of segregation making
the black population into second class citizen. There were still the remnants of
struggle between unions representing the workers and the companies that
virtually owned their lives. Finally there was the war in Viet Nam and the draft
that sent young men off to the jungles of a distant country. May of the songs
that were popular with the teens and young adults were folk songs. These were
not the old style little ditties that grandmothers would sing to the kids, they
were songs of protest. One name stands out from this time of our youth, Pete
Seeger. He has been a force of nature providing a voice against any perceived
form of injustice for almost sixties years now. The accomplishments of this man
are now the subject of a documentary by Jim Brown called ‘Pete Seeger: The Power
of Song’. The title is extremely fitting since Seeger lived by this simple
phrase. He attacked the powerful giants of our society with lyrical songs that
caught on fire with the public. This is an amazing film about an extraordinary
man and his music.
Like many of my generation I had the privilege of
seeing Mr. Seeger in a little coffee house venue in Greenwich Village. For a
bunch of students who more frequently attended concerts of the ‘Grateful Dead’
or ‘Hot Tuna’ it may have seemed strange to listen to a man with a banjo and
scraggly beard. His voice was strong and resounded through the little café. More
important than that the lyrics spoke a truth that cut through everything else
and profoundly touched all in attendance. As I started to watch this documentary
memories like this came flooding back after so many decades. It was as if I was
there again listening to this gentle and dedicated man. Brown has done a
fantastic job of capturing not only the man and his music but also the impact he
has had on the generations of people who were touched by them. His music was the
perfect blend of entertainment and deep meaning. His lyrics cut to the bone but
did so in such a delightful way that it was impossible not to get caught up and
sing along. Brown struck a similar balance with the presentation of this man’s
life. There are the standard talking head interviews and some old footage
included but what matters is the many musical numbers shown. Brown realized that
it was impossible, even criminal, to try to separate the man and the music. They
were and remain one. Seeger was a man who put it all on the line to speak out
against any and all wrongs in our society and he used his innate musical
abilities to do it. Brown recognizes this and shows Seeger’s life through that
music.
The film begins with a black and white clip, a close
up of Seeger singing ‘Jacob’s Ladder’. As he sings he tells the audience that he
can’t hear them entreating them to join in. This was not a man who put on
concerts for the audience to sit back and enjoy. When you went to see Pete
Seeger you were pulled into the show; it was an experience not a passive event.
By the time the next chorus comes around you can hardly hear Seeger over the
combined voice of the crowd. The first talking head interviewed is Bob Dylan
extolling the ability of Seeger to get a crowd of people involved not only with
the music but more importantly the message. Then we hear from a more recent
singer songwriter who found herself in trouble for saying what was on her mind,
Natalie Maines. For her Seeger represented the First Amendment right of free
speech; he lived it no matter what the consequences. Although never a formal
member of the Communist party Seeger was black listed in the fifties and sixties
for his left wing stance on most issues; barred from radio and television for
almost two decades. He was on the controversial ‘Smother’s Brothers’ variety
show on CBS singing ‘Waist Deep in the Big Muddy’ at the most intense part of
the Viet Nam war. He was a man who would not be silenced.
Some have complained that this documentary is a puff
piece that paints the man as a saint. The thing is there few true heroes that
have walked among us and this man was one of them. Even if you don’t agree with
the many causes he took on you have to admire the dedication and conviction
Seeger held. There is an old saying ‘for evil to prevail all that is needed is
for a good man to remain silent’. This never pertained to Pete Seeger. Many of
his songs have become part of our collective social consciousness. His folk
version of ‘We Shall Overcome’ became the anthem for the civil rights movement.
Other songs like ‘If I Had a Hammer’, ‘Turn, Turn, Turn’ and ‘Where Have All the
Flowers Gone’ where sung at every anti-war rally of the sixties. Not only was
Seeger the favorite of these causes he had his share of hit singles. With the
Weavers they topped the charts with the African folk song ‘The Lion Sleeps
Tonight’. There is even a scene here with Seeger leading a group of young
children in a rendition of ‘This Land Is Your Land’. Over the last sixty years
all musicians who use their songs to fight for what they believe owe a debt to
Pete Seeger.
Yes, this film is highly complimentary to Seeger.
Considering the stature of the man and his reputation such high praise is more
than well deserved. There is one scene here that shows a grandmother in
Washington Square Park here in New York City rushing up to see Seeger. It feels
like a ‘tween who has just spotted Hannah Montana a few feet away. It must have
been many decades since she first heard the music of Seeger but for her the
thrill was as real and strong as ever. This documentary shows a complicated man
who spoke through simple music. There are no hidden meanings in his songs they
tell it like it is. This is an important film to see and own. It is a treasure
and represents a large segment of not only the history of our nation but for
many of us it is a huge part of our youth. Brown does an incredible job here and
considering the subject this film is a tribute that is long overdue.
The DVD is from Genius Products in association with
the Weinstein Company. It is presented in anamorphic video with Dolby stereo
audio. There are also a nice selection of extras including three additional
scenes and five short films made by the Seeger family. This is one that needs to
be in your collection and shared with the entire family.