Pete Seeger (1919-2014) headlined the Rockin' Earth Day Fest at Teachers College at Columbia University on April 18th, 2009. (Photo: Jens Schott Knudsen/flickr/cc)
May 03, 2019
Friday marked what would have been Pete Seeger's 100th birthday, and fans took to social media to celebrate the folk music giant and activist's life and legacy.
Seeger died in 2014 at 94. He was, rocker Tom Morello said upon his death, "Absolutely the best that humans can aspire to be."
For the singer's birthday, musicians and advocacy groups drew attention to Seeger's performances and work for environmental and social justice over a roughly seven-decade career. Other observers resurfaced old interviews or reflected on the mark Seeger's music and activism left on their own lives.
\u201cFeeling chills reliving this scene from Farm Aid 2013:\n\n"'Friends,'" began Seeger, hoarsely, 'at 94, I don't have much of a voice left. But here's a song I think you know. And if you sing it, why, we'll make a good sound.'"\n\nFrom @billboard: https://t.co/Co8dYvOZkE\u201d— Farm Aid (@Farm Aid) 1556900771
\u201cI tip my fisherman's cap to Pete Seeger, born one hundred years ago today, friend and populariser of Woody Guthrie, staunch opponent of McCarthyism and an inspiration to generations of songwriters and activists around the world. (image by Pete Frame)\u201d— Billy Bragg (@Billy Bragg) 1556885097
\u201cToday we are celebrating the centenary of folk singer Pete Seeger\u2014who was born in New York City on this day in 1919.\u201d— Ted Gioia (@Ted Gioia) 1556896597
\u201cToday would have been Pete Seeger\u2019s 100th birthday. Clearwater exists because of Pete\u2019s vision and we continue to strive to be guided by his principles.\n\nHow have you have been influenced by the music, actions, and spirit of Pete Seeger? #Pete100\u201d— Sloop Clearwater (@Sloop Clearwater) 1556897204
\u201cThe legendary Pete Seeger was born on May 3, 1919. \n\n\u201cSongs are funny things. They can slip across borders. Proliferate in prisons. Penetrate hard shells. I always believed that the right song at the right moment could change history.\u201d ~ Pete Seeger\u201d— Woody Guthrie Center (@Woody Guthrie Center) 1556894396
\u201cHappy birthday, Pete Seeger!\u201d— Bruce Springsteen (@Bruce Springsteen) 1556824560
\u201cToday would've been folk singer Pete Seeger's 100th birthday! Hear him talk with Studs Terkel in 1955 on "Best of Studs Terkel", tonight at 11 on @WFMTclassical! https://t.co/Q49CIsIBrZ\u201d— Studs Terkel Radio Archive (@Studs Terkel Radio Archive) 1556903640
Seeger was optimistic about the world, he told Democracy Now! in 2004.
"There's a wonderful parable in the New Testament: The sower scatters seeds. Some seeds fall in the pathway and get stamped on, and they don't grow. Some fall on the rocks, and they don't grow," Seeger said.
"But some seeds fall on fallow ground, and they grow and multiply a thousandfold," he added. "Who knows where some good little thing that you've done may bring results years later that you never dreamed of?"
\u201c\u201cWe Shall Overcome\u201d: Remembering Folk Icon Pete Seeger on What Would Have Been His 100th Birthday https://t.co/NGl7OtQ67U\u201d— Democracy Now! (@Democracy Now!) 1556897400
"Pete was hopeful," guitarist Doug Morris wrote at Common Dreams Friday, "he knew there were possibilities that we could--through collective participation and struggle--build a better world, but there are no guarantees that even our best efforts will succeed. Yet despite those doubts, Pete carried on-- and so must we."
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Friday marked what would have been Pete Seeger's 100th birthday, and fans took to social media to celebrate the folk music giant and activist's life and legacy.
Seeger died in 2014 at 94. He was, rocker Tom Morello said upon his death, "Absolutely the best that humans can aspire to be."
For the singer's birthday, musicians and advocacy groups drew attention to Seeger's performances and work for environmental and social justice over a roughly seven-decade career. Other observers resurfaced old interviews or reflected on the mark Seeger's music and activism left on their own lives.
\u201cFeeling chills reliving this scene from Farm Aid 2013:\n\n"'Friends,'" began Seeger, hoarsely, 'at 94, I don't have much of a voice left. But here's a song I think you know. And if you sing it, why, we'll make a good sound.'"\n\nFrom @billboard: https://t.co/Co8dYvOZkE\u201d— Farm Aid (@Farm Aid) 1556900771
\u201cI tip my fisherman's cap to Pete Seeger, born one hundred years ago today, friend and populariser of Woody Guthrie, staunch opponent of McCarthyism and an inspiration to generations of songwriters and activists around the world. (image by Pete Frame)\u201d— Billy Bragg (@Billy Bragg) 1556885097
\u201cToday we are celebrating the centenary of folk singer Pete Seeger\u2014who was born in New York City on this day in 1919.\u201d— Ted Gioia (@Ted Gioia) 1556896597
\u201cToday would have been Pete Seeger\u2019s 100th birthday. Clearwater exists because of Pete\u2019s vision and we continue to strive to be guided by his principles.\n\nHow have you have been influenced by the music, actions, and spirit of Pete Seeger? #Pete100\u201d— Sloop Clearwater (@Sloop Clearwater) 1556897204
\u201cThe legendary Pete Seeger was born on May 3, 1919. \n\n\u201cSongs are funny things. They can slip across borders. Proliferate in prisons. Penetrate hard shells. I always believed that the right song at the right moment could change history.\u201d ~ Pete Seeger\u201d— Woody Guthrie Center (@Woody Guthrie Center) 1556894396
\u201cHappy birthday, Pete Seeger!\u201d— Bruce Springsteen (@Bruce Springsteen) 1556824560
\u201cToday would've been folk singer Pete Seeger's 100th birthday! Hear him talk with Studs Terkel in 1955 on "Best of Studs Terkel", tonight at 11 on @WFMTclassical! https://t.co/Q49CIsIBrZ\u201d— Studs Terkel Radio Archive (@Studs Terkel Radio Archive) 1556903640
Seeger was optimistic about the world, he told Democracy Now! in 2004.
"There's a wonderful parable in the New Testament: The sower scatters seeds. Some seeds fall in the pathway and get stamped on, and they don't grow. Some fall on the rocks, and they don't grow," Seeger said.
"But some seeds fall on fallow ground, and they grow and multiply a thousandfold," he added. "Who knows where some good little thing that you've done may bring results years later that you never dreamed of?"
\u201c\u201cWe Shall Overcome\u201d: Remembering Folk Icon Pete Seeger on What Would Have Been His 100th Birthday https://t.co/NGl7OtQ67U\u201d— Democracy Now! (@Democracy Now!) 1556897400
"Pete was hopeful," guitarist Doug Morris wrote at Common Dreams Friday, "he knew there were possibilities that we could--through collective participation and struggle--build a better world, but there are no guarantees that even our best efforts will succeed. Yet despite those doubts, Pete carried on-- and so must we."
Friday marked what would have been Pete Seeger's 100th birthday, and fans took to social media to celebrate the folk music giant and activist's life and legacy.
Seeger died in 2014 at 94. He was, rocker Tom Morello said upon his death, "Absolutely the best that humans can aspire to be."
For the singer's birthday, musicians and advocacy groups drew attention to Seeger's performances and work for environmental and social justice over a roughly seven-decade career. Other observers resurfaced old interviews or reflected on the mark Seeger's music and activism left on their own lives.
\u201cFeeling chills reliving this scene from Farm Aid 2013:\n\n"'Friends,'" began Seeger, hoarsely, 'at 94, I don't have much of a voice left. But here's a song I think you know. And if you sing it, why, we'll make a good sound.'"\n\nFrom @billboard: https://t.co/Co8dYvOZkE\u201d— Farm Aid (@Farm Aid) 1556900771
\u201cI tip my fisherman's cap to Pete Seeger, born one hundred years ago today, friend and populariser of Woody Guthrie, staunch opponent of McCarthyism and an inspiration to generations of songwriters and activists around the world. (image by Pete Frame)\u201d— Billy Bragg (@Billy Bragg) 1556885097
\u201cToday we are celebrating the centenary of folk singer Pete Seeger\u2014who was born in New York City on this day in 1919.\u201d— Ted Gioia (@Ted Gioia) 1556896597
\u201cToday would have been Pete Seeger\u2019s 100th birthday. Clearwater exists because of Pete\u2019s vision and we continue to strive to be guided by his principles.\n\nHow have you have been influenced by the music, actions, and spirit of Pete Seeger? #Pete100\u201d— Sloop Clearwater (@Sloop Clearwater) 1556897204
\u201cThe legendary Pete Seeger was born on May 3, 1919. \n\n\u201cSongs are funny things. They can slip across borders. Proliferate in prisons. Penetrate hard shells. I always believed that the right song at the right moment could change history.\u201d ~ Pete Seeger\u201d— Woody Guthrie Center (@Woody Guthrie Center) 1556894396
\u201cHappy birthday, Pete Seeger!\u201d— Bruce Springsteen (@Bruce Springsteen) 1556824560
\u201cToday would've been folk singer Pete Seeger's 100th birthday! Hear him talk with Studs Terkel in 1955 on "Best of Studs Terkel", tonight at 11 on @WFMTclassical! https://t.co/Q49CIsIBrZ\u201d— Studs Terkel Radio Archive (@Studs Terkel Radio Archive) 1556903640
Seeger was optimistic about the world, he told Democracy Now! in 2004.
"There's a wonderful parable in the New Testament: The sower scatters seeds. Some seeds fall in the pathway and get stamped on, and they don't grow. Some fall on the rocks, and they don't grow," Seeger said.
"But some seeds fall on fallow ground, and they grow and multiply a thousandfold," he added. "Who knows where some good little thing that you've done may bring results years later that you never dreamed of?"
\u201c\u201cWe Shall Overcome\u201d: Remembering Folk Icon Pete Seeger on What Would Have Been His 100th Birthday https://t.co/NGl7OtQ67U\u201d— Democracy Now! (@Democracy Now!) 1556897400
"Pete was hopeful," guitarist Doug Morris wrote at Common Dreams Friday, "he knew there were possibilities that we could--through collective participation and struggle--build a better world, but there are no guarantees that even our best efforts will succeed. Yet despite those doubts, Pete carried on-- and so must we."
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