Daily Ramblings:
Two Angles ...03/15/2005
03:22:27 pm
Oh boy, I have to illustrate a contrast here, in
the reviews on Bill Pagel's page. The 3/11/05 Dylan
show in Portland is reviewed here by someone named Tim, who
makes the following comments regarding Merle
Haggard's performance of "Okie From
Muskogee:"
Merle was a little more
playful, but just as intense and in amazing
voice. He played "Okie" and got a big
cheer for "San Francisco", but I'm
pretty sure it was for "San Francisco"
itself, and not for the whole line about hippies.
Merle qualified the song after it was over, by
saying that he wrote it a long time ago,
distancing himself somewhat from it.
Nice of those Portland people to cheer so loud for
good old San Francisco, which is - what? - 600 odd
miles away. Since the show has now moved to Oakland
(sister city to San Fran) I hope that Merle has
changed that line to refer to "Portland" so
that he can continue to get those neighborly cheers.
Flash back to a review of the 03/09/05 show, by
someone named Russ (that name rings a bell for me but
I can't place it):
In a review of Monday’s
show, a certain Seattle newspaper critic made an
observation about Merle and his reluctance to
sing Okie From Muskogee. Too bad the out-of-touch
scribe missed Wednesday’s show. Merle sang
Okie and it brought many in the audience to their
feet. Yes, about 3 or 4 people near me booed a
few times during the song, but those on their
feet and screaming with delight during this song
drowned them out. The biggest cheer…and it
was LOUD…was after the line, “…we
don't let our hair grow long and shaggy, Like the
hippies out in San Francisco do.” The crowd
roared! Hilarious! -- not because anyone’s
feelings were being hurt, or political views
insulted – but, because it is a song with
not a little tongue and cheek that is still able
to make its point. It should come as no surprise
that there are many Dylan fans who are tired of
America-bashing. Merle seemed a bit overwhelmed
by the reaction he got, and said nothing when it
was over. He was grinning from ear to ear.
Nothing else from any of the three bands, on
either night I attended, gripped the crowd like
this performance. Do not miss the Show in its
entirety. Be sure to bring your sense of
humor and you’ll be just fine.
Sounds like someone at the Portland show could
have benefited from that advice.
We don't smoke marijuana in
Muskogee;
We don't take our trips on LSD
We don't burn our draft cards down on Main Street;
We like livin' right, and bein' free.
We don't make a party out of lovin';
We like holdin' hands and pitchin' woo;
We don't let our hair grow long and shaggy,
Like the hippies out in San Francisco do.
I'm proud to be an Okie from Muskogee,
A place where even squares can have a ball
We still wave Old Glory down at the courthouse,
And white lightnin's still the biggest thrill of all
Or listen here.
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