Just setting the record straight. Utah learned this story from Art Thieme. After an all night story swap, they wanted the story to end all stories. Art told this one. At the end, no one said a word. They just packed up and went home. Damn,I miss hearing these booming voices. Strong hearts. Good men.
I heard from Bruce Brackney just minutes ago. Utah Phillips passed away last night in his sleep. May the songs of this incredible troubadour never be forgotten. He's bequeathed to us a treasure that must not be squandered. -Jay Peterson, Sedgwick, Maine
I think the two perfect western songs I have ever heard are Utah Phillips "The Goodnight Loving Trail" and John Prine's "Angel from Montgomery." Both songs are about getting old and not being able to do the things you loved when you were young. Who says western music is simple and unsophisticated. "No one can change it and no ones to blame." These lyrics are pure poetry.
I never met Utah Phillips but just his recordings with Ani DiFranco, which I listened to over and over and over, taught me a lot in my junior high years about activism. His songs and stories still give me so much comfort. Rest in peace, buddy.
dunchaknow, I would have written what you wrote almost word for word. Fine post here. Here I am some 8 years later agreeing with a stranger who speaks my words. Peace and health to you.
I was there at Strawberry for this performance, one of his last. I have a photo of my best friend getting his autograph; they both passed away the following year. Precious memories.
One his favorite stories, one my favorite songs. NO one like him. Should have been compulsory for evry American to see him. I was lucky enough to do once and it will remain a sweet memory. I think of all he meant to so many people. I hold his courage to "buck" against anything that made cents - but not sense- was among his strongest attributes. Amazing wit! thanks for the post, thank God for U.Bruce Phillips. willy
If reincarnation exists what do you suppose Utah Philips will come back as? Nothing, because he isn't really dead. His energy is alive and his spirit lives on just like Joe Hill. As long as there are people who are suffering under the yolk of some state or boss, Utah Philips lives on. Thanks for the stories Utah!
I met Utah the first time at the Worlds Fair in Spokane WA in 1974. I saw him almost everyday for six months, striking up a friendship of sorts. After the fair he settled in Spokane for a number of years. Our friendship continued and we crossed paths about town, ie. performances, my house once and his a couple of times. He became a source of knowledge and support for those years. We shared a railroad past. 34 years. He is sorely missed, every day of my life.
Thank you Utah For so many brilliant performances,indeed,a true American troubadour/story teller/veteran/hobo/activist/organizer/muckraker/humorist The last show of his I saw was in Santa Cruz with his long time friend Rosalie Sorells. Were will we find another story teller like Utah Philips.R.I.P. I'll bet he and Woodie Guthrie are having some interesting conversations,along with Mark Twain and Will Rodgers.
At the same show and I was invited to do a photo shoot before of him and glad I did, I took four rolls of film, septia and all, and I am fortunate I did and I put them to use, as they are in a documentary on his life now, " Tales From The Long Memory.
I miss him terribly, he always could say something about a situation that would help you understand a deeper level and comfort you. I'm a Loving, this is my song. Solidarity my sisters and brothers!
we opened up for utah when he came to our town in the eighties. he attracted quite a wonderful crowd and memorable experiences. your name calling arguments are amusing
One of my hobo heroes. Utah Phillips. The other being hobo-singer Goebel Reeves who wrote Hobo's Lullaby. What a wonderful legacy of songs and stories they left us. RIP gentlemen.
I met Utah at the Strawberry Festival in 1995. I asked if he was going to perform Moose Turd Pie. He said "I don't do that one anymore". I got his autograph on my program and went on my way back to camp.
"Is that the moon I see, Over there in the west? Or just the headlight's beam, C&O Express, I know she's gone, Whatever I say, Still it won't be long, 'Till I make up my mind, And go away." --U. Utah Phillips Adios, old friend. We will miss the likes of you.
The funniest story I ever heard him tell was also about a camp cook. This time it was about a reluctant cook in a lumber camp in Canada. The punch lines were, "My God! This is Moose Turd Pie. Good though." Funnier than an egg-sitting horse. Anyone else heard it?
"one job I had was working for the REA, the Rural Electrification Administration, in western states on Indian lands. I was the first man to wire a head for a reservation."
Folk and Blues music is the First form of true American music ever! is all I have to say. So Thankyou Woody Guthrie and Robert Johnson and everybody else who was/is part of it .The list goes on for miles. You can say what you want about other areas of culture but when it comes to music America did it better than ANYONE (not now of course). Any genre of music is some how branched to an american style. Fuck lables, we did it better and with more honesty even if you do consider music dead
Communist is also the pejorative label used by right-wingers to label anyone with even one "liberal" opinion. This is part of the ongoing branding/propaganda war being waged these Republican and other far right trollers.
as an activist musician, utah phillips was a personal hero of mine...had the honor to perform with him at concerts, festivals and actions such as the anniversary of the bombing of hiroshima and nagasaki in livermore california where the bombs are made...he sat on our bus and shared stories...he was a sweet man and an important voice, i never missed a chance to see him if he was around..especially love his work with ani...
Utah Phillips was a treasure - the stories and songs that spoke to dignity of workers and oppression by bosses. Seems that nothing has changed and, in fact has gotten worse. I wonder what songs and stories are being written or will be written about these present days. The only one I know is a funny take-off of "blue Collar Holler" by the late Stan Rogers, "White Collar Holler". Pretty much a goof song but with a bit of defiance against those who enslave us for wages.
I am also of the opinion that we are all communists. We live in communities and spend most of our life in commons (public shared spaces) and we communicate. However the proper noun, "Communist" is a hot button label (or brand!) which has different meanings to different people. "Communism" is a philosophy. There are the Communist Parties, for which being a Communist requires carrying a current membership card.
@boxcarro i don't care what you learned in english class. i'm talking about self expression. the human spirit does not manifest itself in either a spondee or a dactyl.
@boxcarro though i suspect by now that you are just trolling and probably around 13 years old, i thought i might address your qualms with modern poetry. Though I can see why you think that young people are culturally idiotic, I ask you to consider this: is it the youth or the culture? The culture is certainly idiotic in some respects, but who among us isn't a product of our culture, of our environment? Also, poetry is about self expression and knows no imaginary parameters like rhyme and meter.
I'll tell u the funniest story i ever hear in my life- Flat-out full boar overhead cam cord wild wheel no old bark funniest story I ever heard in my live. Huh?
There are hundreds of various Communist factions and governments around the world. Their track record of "serving the people" is certainly questionable, but before we start counting corpses, remember that Capitalism and Religion have their own piles of corpses. I think Anarchists believe in communism, however they have big problems with Communists, Capitalists, and Big Religions, because somebody's always trying to lord it over somebody else.
THE BEST OF THE REST, Britain: Beatles invented pop.Sex Pistols re-invented anarchy. Pink floyd were/are the british FOLK MUSIC , and The Rolling Stones were just a mix of The Beatles,Sex pistols and Pink Floyd ALL rolled up into one! Thats where Britain is right now. Music just sucks nowadays and the good shit is underground. ALL EXCEPT FOR a guy named Bob Dylan,he did it all. BOB DYLAN is his own Genre' he is the most dynamic musician ever. There is nowhere in music that this guy hasen't been.
i don't consider it fact as there has never been a truly communist country I have not read his early writings and yes as i don't see the relevance and I know him to be an atheist but if it is not from Marx's works i don't want to see it.
listen buddy that's your opinion but if you look at true communist societys' such as the Paris commune were massacred there has never been a truly communist country that was not invaded the idea is there i fully recommend you read "the communist manifesto" if you understand you will know what communism truly stands for not what you have been told it dose.
