RIP Pete Seeger

[Prospero]

This song was included in a tribute album to Seeger issued some years ago... the final song on the album recorded by the man himself and, in some ways, a fitting swansong to a life spent questioning.

[Ecstatic]

Thoreau famously stated that "most men lead lives of quiet desperation." Not so Pete. He lived a life of outspoken activism and humanitarianism.

[magus13]

My father was huge follower and was at many protests where Pete Seeger played. I had the pleasue of seeing many of his concerts. Friend of the working man and the environment. Pete Seger is a great American

[Prospero]

Ecstatic, you missed the second part of that quote... very pertinent to Seeger. "... and go to the grave with the song still in them."

His songs are everywhere. Part of the fabric of modern America.

[EZWind]

A uniquely and monumentally influential individual, both for his music and his social and humanitarian activism. The world is an immeasurably better place for your having been here, Pete. Thank you and Rest In Peace

[Ecstatic]

Ecstatic, you missed the second part of that quote... very pertinent to Seeger. "... and go to the grave with the song still in them."

His songs are everywhere. Part of the fabric of modern America.

Pertinent, indeed, Prospero. But that's actually a misquotation. And yes, I misquoted Henry David as well. The short form of the quote reads "The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation," and is from Walden:

"The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation. What is called resignation is confirmed desperation.... But it is a characteristic of wisdom not to do desperate things."

That last bit applies equally well to Seeger! As regards the quotation "and go to the grave with the song still in them," the most likely source is a misquote of Oliver Wendell Holmes from "The Voiceless":

"Alas for those that never sing,
But die with all their music in them."

PS: I love your Asimov quote!

[Prospero]

Cheers Ecstatic... well that just shows how useless the web can be. I looked it up becauseI've known the quotation you used for years, but never realised it was Thoreau. Thanks. That Oliver Wendell Holmes...

[the_unnatural]

I thought this was pretty cool.

Sign Off - Pete Seeger Tribute - "If I Had a Hammer" - The Colbert Report - 2014-29-01 - Video Clip | Comedy Central

[Ecstatic]

@Prospero...yeah that darn interwebs thingy....

@the_unnatural...thanks for sharing the clip!

[Prospero]

The cip uploaded by the unnatural is not viewable in the UK