This Train is Bound for Glory

It is times like these I like to turn to the Dust Bowl Troubadour Woody Guthrie for hope. Guthrie, the son of a KKK member, made his crusade that of freedom and social justice. He is the encapsulation of an individual who fought against an upbringing of hatred to create a life of truth and acceptance. His main opponent was fascism. As he came to prominence during World War II, he despised Hitler, of whom he said anyone human is against. His slogan, “this machine kills fascists” was spawned from an anti-Hitler song he wrote in 1941. Perhaps his thoughts on fascism were made most clear in his song “What Are We Waiting On,” where he urged the United States to enter the war effort against Hitler and the Nazi Party. He wrote:

There’s a great and a bloody fight ’round this whole world tonight 
And the battle, the bombs and shrapnel reign 
Hitler told the world around he would tear our union down 
But our union’s gonna break them slavery chains 
Our union’s gonna break them slavery chains

I walked up on a mountain in the middle of the sky 
Could see every farm and every town 
I could see all the people in this whole wide world 
That’s the union that’ll tear old Hitler down
That’s the union that’ll tear the fascists down

Our union will “tear old Hitler down.” Our union will “tear the fascists down.” That is America, according to Woody Guthrie. His classic “This Land is Your Land” further cements his views on America, a unique country that continues to fight its demons but represents the unbridled hope of all. America is multifaceted. America is diverse. It’s a social experiment with bruises and wounds, but, like a prize fighter, it perseveres, because it “tear[s] the fascists down.” If only Woody Guthrie were alive today.

Music, like most art, is a response to the times. Inspiration comes from experience. Woody Guthrie wrote out of necessity – his songs engendered nationalism at a time where democracy was threatened, and he preached acceptance for the entire country, not just a portion. Musicians today have the same responsibility to speak out. Protest music is not what it was in the 1960s, but it still exists, albeit too taciturn and encumbered by the glut of music today. So, we turn to Guthrie and Ochs and Lennon and Baez, because, according to Baez, we have not seen an anthemic protest song released today. That said, we can look to Green Day, Bruce Springsteen, Kendrick Lamar, Kodak Black, and even Beyonce for pieces of social protest – they are, in a way, carrying the torch of Woody Guthrie – however, I for one would like to see the torch brighter.

Speaking of torches – tiki torches to be exact – a group of white nationalists came together for a rally in Charlottesville, Virginia this weekend. The empowered group chanted anti-Semitic epithets while many proudly waved the Nazi salute as they marched with tiki torches on the campus of Virginia. Let’s look beyond the hilarious irony of white supremacists using a Polynesian product to declare their inherent hatred of immigration and longing for racial purity. Such a display could and should be laughed at because of its inanity and racism, but I do not want to discount the danger of these groups thinking they are powerful. Also, the events of this weekend led to the deaths of three individuals, one of whom was run over by a lunatic domestic terrorist. We are supposed to be the union that tears the fascists down, not the union the excuses blatant Nazism. Remember before when I mentioned the bumps and bruises of American – one of those gashes is the seedy undercurrent of misguided nationalism that spawns in Nazi sympathizers. I’d be ignorant in saying that this can ever be removed from society. It won’t be; however, one cannot provide these individuals with power. It’s simple. We want to respect the views of all people in America – however, if one’s view is obdurate hatred for people “not like you” with appreciation of the Nazis, those views are dangerous, inappropriate, and vile. Such an individual should be required to get out of his/her bubble, so he/she can recognize that people are people. Those individuals cannot gain credence or any form of acceptance. And, that’s where music can have a role. Music has served a tremendous role in our country, providing a conduit for social change and shifting perspectives of many. It can once again open the eyes of those who are blinded by ignorance and fear. It’s time to hear more from musicians.

All this said, I am confident that the despicable underside of hatred that marred the news this weekend will be conquered. Woody Guthrie was correct that the machine of music kills fascists. It’s an unstoppable force. Just take one listen to the American gospel classic “This Train,” that Guthrie adapted and played. “This train is bound for glory” – no liars or con men allowed – only the righteous and the holy can get on this train. America may not be perfect, but, throughout its history and the tireless work of fighters for social justice, it has kicked liars and con men off the train bound for glory, and I am confident that they will be kicked off again, because this train is bound for glory and it’s not going to be stopped.

Here is a lively version of the tune from Mumford and Sons, Edward Sharpe, and The Old Crow Medicine Show. That’s right, a few Brits, a wacky Californian, and a string band from Tennessee singing a gospel song with joyous effervescence. That’s America at its finest.