I posted Singing
to the Choir on the new Rebuild the IBT page and they loved it.. I just wish my
union Brothers and Sisters… Especially in the IWW would support my music.. I
have given away way more CD’s than I have sold… It really chaps my ass when Tom
Morello plays at the Teamster convention and then the Port protests.. I, a Working Teamster.. never invited.. Not once
have any of my Teamsters.. Even at TDU,
asked me to play anything.. I feel weird
complaining about this, but union folks are gonna have to figure it out that
they have to support their artists and musicians.. now.. you can’t wait until their
dead.. Bring us the flowers now.. We need Bread and Roses too..
I have been
waiting for one of our Fellow Workers to figure it out that they have a Fellow
Worker who needs some support.. sort of how like Ani Difranco fell in love with
Utah Phillips and did recordings with him.. The Folk music business gets on my
nerves.. I will have to pay more dues I guess… Like Phillips I just want to
make a living not a killing… I guess that is why I am still a working Teamster…
HA! But my Railroad work is killing me.. I just want to sing… bring people
together with their natural voice.. Music.. Much more powerful than Twitter or
Facebook.. people coming together.. I have an Exit strategy from the Railroad..
But.. It’s a scary jump from a moving train…
But. Seriously..
I think that is why the Occupy Movement was not very successful.. in some
ways they were very successful but, they did not create a lasting Long Memory though Music, Art maybe, a
bit.. but.. Leaderless movements… not sure how much those are going to work.. I
really don’t think I’m going to remember Guy Fawkes.
I do Remember
or at least have learned much from Eugene Debs,Joe Hill, Paul Robeson, A Phillip
Randolph.. Malcom X… The Last Poets.. Jimmie Hendrix.. The Grateful Dead.. Mother
Jones… the Occupy Movement made who for us to remember?? .. We are the 99
percent? Twinkle Twinkle.. Mic Check?
I think Two Turn tables and a microphone and The roof, the Roof the Roof is on fire! Were much more long living slogans. An Injury to one is an Injury to all !! or We are the 99 percent?? HA.. I'll take our slogan an Injury.. It's time tested!!
I guess they might have made Tom
Morello.. But Sony made him.. Wink Wink…. I do Appreciate his work.. but.. If
he is gonna wear that IWW hat.. I hope he will someday be there for the IWW
like the other 99 percent are… HA! Maybe he is.. Maybe He and other high
profile IWW members have broke out the bread.. I don’t know.. so being critical
is not what I wish to be.. but there is something I have learned in 13 years of
railroading.. a Squeaky wheel gets the grease!
This is a weird
place to be.. I want to write an Article for the Industrial Worker about
supporting our Musicians and Artist.. without making it sound like an
advertisement for my music.. but we say buy union and look for the Bug.. I don’t
want to bug anyone.. but shouting from the roof top? Getting up on a soapbox..
maybe… Maybe I just wrote the article.. to a friend.. a friend in the
struggle...
Utah Phillips made a decision.. at a crossroads.. once.
Johnny Cash wanted to record some of his songs and he told him no. Bruce was standing at the crossroads. I am not suggesting that Cash was the devil,
but Bruce could have made a bunch of money from this decision.. he chose to not
let his music into the machine. He wished to stay true to his Credo.. Make a
living not a Killing.. so….
I do this
because it make me happy, Folk music belongs to the people, when I see people
suffer, I myself suffer. We artists and musicians come from the people and our
art is inspired by the people. We must serve the people. I have a heart for
others and that is why I am in this work. So when I work to relive others human
suffering or memorialize their struggle in song, I am working for myself. I do
not consider that I have made any sacrifice whatsoever. No man does.. unless he
violates his conscience.
All of what I wrote.. is why i gave that CD to you for free.. Freedom is my work and my gift to you!
Yours for the
One Big Union Grand…
FW JP
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