I Write A Song Because I Want

Singing With Children In The Schools Has Been The Most Rewarding Experience Of My Life.

After Visits To Several Communist Countries (ussr, Poland, Czechoslovakia, Slovenia, East Germany, Vietnam, China, Cuba), I Feel Strongly That Most "revolutionary" Types Around The World Don't Realize The Importance Of Freedom Of The Press And The Air, A Right To Peaceably Assemble And Discuss Anything, Including The Dangers Of Such Discussions.

My Mother Wanted Me To Learn How To Read Music. She'd Given Fiddles To My Two Older Brothers, But They'd Rebelled. I Came Along And My Father Said, "oh, Let Peter Enjoy Himself." What She Did Was Leave Musical Instruments All Around The House. Whistles, Marimbas, Squeeze Boxes, A Piano And Organ. By Age Six Or Seven, I Could Bang Out A Simple Tune On Almost Anything. I Developed A Good Ear, So I Didn't Learn To Read Music Until I Taught Myself At Age Eighteen, 'cause I Was Hearing So Many Good Songs I Couldn't Possibly Remember Them All.

You Have A Right To Your Opinion And I've Got A Right To Mine. Period.

He [alan Lomax] Started Right Off Trying To Find People Who Could Introduce Folk Songs To City People. He Found A Young Actor Named Burl Ives And Said, "burl, You Know A Lot Of Great Country Songs Learned From Your Grandmother, Don't You Know People Would Love To Hear Them?" He Put On Radio Programs. He Persuaded Cbs To Dedicate "the School Of The Air" For One Year To American Folk Music. He'd Get Some Old Sailor To Sing An Old Sea Shanty With A Cracked Voice. Then He'd Get Me To Sing It With My Banjo.