It's a folk singer's job to comfort disturbed people and to disturb comfortable people
Interpretation
Folk singers play a dual role by soothing those in distress and challenging the complacency of those who are comfortable.
This quote by Woody Guthrie highlights the unique responsibility of folk singers and artists in society. They provide solace to individuals who are facing turmoil and, at the same time, provoke thought and reflection amongst those who may be too comfortable in their lives. This duality emphasizes the power of music and art as tools for social commentary and emotional support.
In practice
During a community event focused on social justice, this quote could set the tone for the importance of music in activism.
A folk song is what's wrong and how to fix it or it could be _x000D_ who's hungry and where their mouth is or _x000D_ who's out of work and where the job is or _x000D_ who's broke and where the money is or _x000D_ who's carrying a gun and where the peace is.
The world is filled with people who are no longer needed -- and who try to make slaves of all of us -- and they have their music and we have ours.
Nobody living can ever stop me. As I go walking my freedom highway. Nobody living can make me turn back. This land was made for you and me.
It's round the world I've traveled; it's round the world I've roamed; but I've yet to see an outlaw drive a family from its home
I hate a song that makes you think that you are not any good. I hate a song that makes you think that you are just born to lose. Bound to lose. No good to nobody. No good for nothing. Because you are too old or too young or too fat or too slim too ugly or too this or too that.
Do Re Mi_x000D_ California is a garden of Eden, a paradise to live in or see,_x000D_ But believe it or not, you won't find it so hot_x000D_ If you ain't got the do re mi
I get offended when people say, 'So, being a white rapper...and growing up white...after being born white...' It's all I ever hear!
With few exceptions, every major pop singer in the US during her generation has been touched in some way by her genius. It is Billie Holiday who was, and still remains, the greatest single musical influence on me. Lady Day is unquestionably the most important influence on American popular singing in the last twenty years.
We are the same. There is no difference anywhere in the world. People are people. They laugh, cry, feel, and love, and music seems to be the commons denomination that brings us all together. Music cuts through all boundaries and goes right to the soul.
Everything you need to know about Iron Maiden is onstage.
Playing live is what it's all about for me. It's cathartic, it's emotional, it's about communing with people. The way you feel after a gig is a such a powerful thing.
When one knows at an early age that their gift, talent and direction is musical, one tends to focus on that and let nothing interfere or impede the forward motion toward the end of that rainbow. And after 50-something years of rockin' out, you still realise there is no end to that distant rainbow until one's last sunset.
Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.