“There never was a sound that was not music. There’s no real trick of creating words to set to music—once you realize that the word is the music and the people are the song.” – Woody Guthrie

It’s been 85 years since Alan Lomax sat down in the Federal Department of Interior studios for historic sessions that would introduce folksinger, songwriter and storyteller, Woody Guthrie to the public.  The sessions reveal Guthrie at the peak of his folk music powers presenting his persona as a cross between Mark Twain, Will Rogers & Jimmie Rodgers. While he was clearly rough around the edges, he presented himself in a way that would allow his audience to hear and feel his stories & songs with a warmth and intimacy that was rare for the Oklahoma troubadour up to this time in his life.

With the release of Woody at Home Parts 1 & 2, we are allowed a glimpse through a time portal, with the help of modern non-invasive technology, to Guthrie, not in a performance mode, but in the comfortable quiet of his home in Brooklyn, New York between 1951 and 1952.  Along with the sonic warmth & clarity, what stands out here is the absence of any pre-arranged persona.  In its place is the artist, his words, his primal melodies and song sketches raw and real. His intended audience is a new publisher who he feels enough confidence in to send this demo style recordings captured directly by Guthrie himself into one microphone and a reel-to-reel.

The result is 13 never-heard recordings by Woody Guthrie, getting ready to record new ones, old ones and some still in the songwriter’s process of creation. What he lays down for his publishers includes the much loved songs like “Deportee (Plane Wreck at Los Gatos), a stark & reflective variation on “The Land is Your Land,” “Pastures of Plenty” and “Biggest Thing That Man Has Ever Done.'” Hearing Woody sing “Deportee” in a slow unmelodic chant brings a chilled reminder of the lack of compassion for immigrants in the current right-wing political climate.  As it stands today, this is the only known recording of this classic song. The words are spoken; however, the melody is suggested leaving a re-invention and collaboration by Martin Hoffman years later.  Woody’s straight forward take on “Jesus Christ” which he lifted from the popular ballad, “Jesse James” is an immediate reminder that today’s bogusly named, “Chrisitan Nationalist” movement is the modern version of self-righteousness pharisees who would be the first-in-line to crucify the outlaw portrayed in the song.

But it’s the less familiar songs that will bring fans, archivists and fellow songwriters to a closer listen to this rare collection. Songs like “My Id & My Ego,” “Einstein’s Theme Song,” and “Buoy Bells from Trenton,” make this collection of rare recordings an essential treasure from Woody Guthrie. The final track is the folksinger’s prophecy from a across the ages singing to the faithful of our day.  We may grow weary of overexposure to the self-righteous demagogues & narcissists of our times, but “Better Git Ready,” is a relevant call to action, one which is so eerily prophetic, it’s hard to ignore as Woody Guthrie calls us all to get up and stand tall in our tradition of song, stories and valid protest.

I had a dream the other night.
Sing on, brother, sing;
About this war we’ve got to fight
Sing on, brother, sing;
I dreamt the Devil come to me,
And he woke me up from out of my sleep;
And here is what he said to me,
Sing on, brother, sing.

Chorus: You better get ready, brother!
You better get ready, sister!
You better get ready,
‘Cause you know you’ve got to fight!
You better get ready, brother!
You better get ready, sister!
You better get ready,
‘Cause you may be called tonight!

I raised up from out o’ my bed;
Sing on brother, sing!
And to the devil, this I said:
Sing on, brother, sing!
Pray, tell me, sir, what brings you here?
Trifling? Gambling? Wine or beer?
Or is my doomsday drawing near?
Sing on, neighbor, sing.

CHORUS

The Devil opened his big black book;
Sing on, sister, sing!
He opened it up and took a look;
Sing on, brother, sing!
He read off Adolph Hitler’s name;
He said “Old Hell just ain’t the same!
Compared to the Nazis, Hell’s too tame!”
Sing on, sisters, sing!

CHORUS

I then pulled on my fighting pants;
Sing on, brother, sing!
The Devil of Hell he sung and danced!
Sing on, sister, sing!
He said: “If you’ll go and win this war,
And chase that super chase out for sure,
I’ll never raise Hell on earth no more!”
Sing on, parder, sing!

CHORUS