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Discussion Groups / English Usage / January 2007The Big Fool Says to Push On
Censored by CBS: Waist Deep in the Big Muddy It was back in nineteen forty-two, I was a member of a good platoon. We were on maneuvers in-a Loozianna, One night by the light of the moon. The captain told us to ford a river, That's how it all begun. We were -- knee deep in the Big Muddy, But the big fool said to push on. The Sergeant said, "Sir, are you sure, This is the best way back to the base?" "Sergeant, go on! I forded this river 'Bout a mile above this place. It'll be a little soggy but just keep slogging. We'll soon be on dry ground." We were -- waist deep in the Big Muddy And the big fool said to push on. The Sergeant said, "Sir, with all this equipment No man will be able to swim." "Sergeant, don't be a Nervous Nellie," The Captain said to him. "All we need is a little determination; Men, follow me, I'll lead on." We were -- neck deep in the Big Muddy And the big fool said to push on. All at once, the moon clouded over, We heard a gurgling cry. A few seconds later, the captain's helmet Was all that floated by. The Sergeant said, "Turn around men! I'm in charge from now on." And we just made it out of the Big Muddy With the captain dead and gone. We stripped and dived and found his body Stuck in the old quicksand. I guess he didn't know that the water was deeper Than the place he'd once before been. Another stream had joined the Big Muddy 'Bout a half mile from where we'd gone. We were lucky to escape from the Big Muddy When the big fool said to push on. Well, I'm not going to point any moral; I'll leave that for yourself Maybe you're still walking, you're still talking You'd like to keep your health. But every time I read the papers That old feeling comes on; We're -- waist deep in the Big Muddy And the big fool says to push on. Waist deep in the Big Muddy And the big fool says to push on. Waist deep in the Big Muddy And the big fool says to push on. Waist deep! Neck deep! Soon even a Tall man'll be over his head, we're Waist deep in the Big Muddy! And the big fool says to push on! Words and music by Pete Seeger (1967)  SignatureLars Eighner <http://larseighner.com/> <http://myspace.com/larseighner> War on Terrorism: Bad News from the Sanity Front "There's one thing ... that I do like about Rumsfeld, he's just a little bit crazy, OK"? --Thomas Friedman, _The New York Times_ > Censored by CBS: > > Waist Deep in the Big Muddy [...] > Words and music by Pete Seeger (1967) Actually, it is "Words and music by Pete Seeger (1963)". We have had people respond belated to things before, but this must be a record. This censorship occurred in 1967; so did its evaporation. Seeger *did* perform this on CBS in 1967, somewhat later in the year than he wished. > > Censored by CBS: > > Waist Deep in the Big Muddy > [...] > > > > Words and music by Pete Seeger (1967) > > Actually, it is "Words and music by Pete Seeger (1963)". I see 1963 on a few Google results, but careful-looking discographies say 1967. Do you have any official evidence? > We have had people respond belated to things before, but this must be a > record. This censorship occurred in 1967; so did its evaporation. > Seeger *did* perform this on CBS in 1967, somewhat later in the year > than he wished. You think what prompted Lars to post these words was the fact that CBS censored them briefly in 1967? Not today's news? My, oh my. I was glad to see the word "escalation" appear in the news today -- that's the old word from Viet Nam. It might jar people's memories. This "surge" term is a new spin. SignatureBest -- Donna Richoux >> > Censored by CBS: > [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > I see 1963 on a few Google results, but careful-looking > discographies say 1967. Do you have any official evidence? Can I bid 1966? Mr. Seeger introduced several songs written this year. His "Waist Deep in the Big Muddy" most impressed this listener. This joggy story-song is a parable on at least two levels. On the simplest level, where it tells of an Army captain misleading his troops, the song could be a smash pop hit. On the other level, as a critique of President Johnson's leadership into "deep water," it might prove to be a controversial smash pop hit. [_NY Times_, 12/24/66] The performance took place "last night at Carnegie Hall". SignatureEvan Kirshenbaum +------------------------------------ HP Laboratories |This isn't good. I've seen good, 1501 Page Mill Road, 1U, MS 1141 |and it didn't look anything like Palo Alto, CA 94304 |this. | MST3K kirshenbaum@hpl.hp.com (650)857-7572 http://www.kirshenbaum.net/ >> Censored by CBS: >> [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > > Actually, it is "Words and music by Pete Seeger (1963)". Close, but no Seeger. Here's what the Man said in 1983 (am I alone in being surprised but happy that Pete's still alive? That man wrote and performed some brilliant stuff) http://www.peteseeger.net/givepeacechance.htm "How Waist Deep in the Big Muddy Finally Got on Network Television in 1968 (From GIVE PEACE A CHANCE, An 1983 Exhibit at the Peace Museum in Chicago) Pete Seeger Most of my life I have assumed that the kind of songs I sing would not normally get played on the airwaves. I pointed to examples like Woody Guthrie's song, "This Land Is Your Land" to show that they don't have to get played on the airwaves. If it's a real good song, it will get spread around anyway. But in 1967 I wrote what I thought was a real good song, and I knew there wasn't time for it to get around the country. People were being killed every day in Vietnam. I had a recording contract with Columbia Records at that time, and my friends there even agreed to put out a record of it; but the sales department just laughed at us both. The records stayed on the shelves and weren't even sent to the stores. ... Here are the complete words of the song (I'm supposed to tell people that it's copyright 1967 by T.R.O.)" SignatureJohn Dean Oxford > am I alone in being > surprised but happy that Pete's still alive? You are possibly not alone, but Pete has remained politically active over here in Leftpondia all these years. Most Americans, especially perhaps those who keep an eye on environmental issuses, will know that he's still around. He's had a big hand in cleaning up the Hudson River, among other causes. SignatureRoland Hutchinson Will play viola da gamba for food. NB mail to my.spamtrap [at] verizon.net is heavily filtered to remove spam. If your message looks like spam I may not see it. > Censored by CBS: > [quoted text clipped - 58 lines] > > Words and music by Pete Seeger (1967) Do you know if the (original) subject matter of this song is the Ribbon Creek Incident? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ribbon_Creek_Incident Stupot |
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