He Just Loves Phil Ochs

he just loves phil ochs

Sing out! vol 15 no 5, 1965

Ramblin' Jack Elliott and Joan Baez

HI YOUR BLOG MAKES ME SO GOD DAMN HAPPY AND EXCITED JUST TO KNOW THAT ITS SOMEONE’S SPECIAL INTEREST!!!!

I was raised on folk music in a Midwest-focused old time community and this was one part of myself that I could never relate to any of my peers outside of the scene, so just finding one out in the wild is super super exciting and validating thank you for your service!!!! o7

Yay! i kinda made this blog for a similar reason! most blogs that talk about folk music between the 40s-70s usually focus on Bob Dylan, Simon & Garfunkel and Joni Mitchell etc. AND I do love those artists as well (except for Joni Mitchell sorry folk lovers I do not get that one) but my interests have always steered way more towards old country and 30s-40s traditional folk. ESPECIALLY Woody Guthrie. the only people who have my music taste are usually those in their 80s which is cool but I do feel really lonely about it sometimes. music is so important to me and I cannot relate to anyone usually!

Anyway I noticed the only folk song blogs were only Bob Dylan focused (valid I am not hating) or had stopped posting in 2013. And I have this problem where if I don't talk about folk music for at least an hour I will explode. So instead of subjecting my beloved friends and family to constant rants about how Burl Ives is a treacherous dog and Josh White DESERVES BETTER, I decided to make a Tumblr blog about it.

and there's another problem. the only informal places that talk about traditional folk music are overwhelmingly dominated by cishet white guys. This is a problem in academia as well (to a lesser degree), its awful. The advancements and roots of black folk music and women performers are overlooked and understated. Hell Elizabeth Cotten was a genius and she certainly isn't talked about as a revolutionary artist of country and folk in mainstream spaces, which she absolutely was. It isn't even just the undervaluing of artists and genres like Blues; it is the underlying idea that folk and country music isn't for marginalized people. As a disabled, intersex, transgender, butch, Jewish person, I am not made to feel welcome in online and in-person spaces for mainstream folk and country.

I HATE THIS! folk music is music for the people by the people. folk music is the songs we hear our parents sing to us when we are little. Folk music is the music we play with others to pass the time. folk music is the beat of feet hitting the floor as we dance with our crushes, our friends, and our family. folk music is the beating heart of history and it belongs to everyone.

anyway, I grew up in a rural western state, and folk and country music have always been really important to me. I'm happy that other people have the same the same special interests :D and I'm super glad that you enjoy my blog.

Shirley Collins

Sing Out! Poster from 1968, signed by various folk singers

paul robeson, abc interview "on colonialism " 1960

"I would say unquestionably, i am an American,

born there

my father, a slave there

upon the backs of my people was developed the primary wealth of america"