apropos

[mamajoan]

Isaac and I have been listening to a Pete Seeger compilation CD, and every time I hear "Waist Deep in the Big Muddy," it strikes me how apropos the song is to today's political situation. It was written about LBJ and Vietnam, but could apply equally to Iraq and Dubya.

It was back in nineteen forty-two,
I was a member of a good platoon.
We were on maneuvers in Loo-zianna,
One night by the light of the moon.
The captain told us to ford a river,
That's how it all begun.
We were
Knee deep in the Big Muddy,
The big fool said to push on.

The Sergeant said, "Sir, are you sure,
This is the best way back to the base?"
"Sergeant, go on! I forded this river
'Bout a mile above this place.
It'll be a little soggy but just keep slogging.
We'll soon be on dry ground."
We were
Waist deep in the Big Muddy
The big fool said to push on.

The Sergeant said, "Sir, with all this equipment
No man will be able to swim."
"Sergeant, don't be a Nervous Nellie,"
The Captain said to him.
"All we need is a little determination;
Men, follow me, I'll lead on."
We were
Neck deep in the Big Muddy
And the big fool said to push on.

All at once, the moon clouded over,
We heard a gurgling cry.
A few seconds later, the captain's helmet
Was all that floated by.
The Sergeant said, "Men, turn around!
I'm in charge from now on."
We just made it out of the Big Muddy
With the captain dead and gone.

We stripped and dived and found his body
Stuck in the old quicksand.
I guess he didn't know that the water was deeper
Than the place he'd once before been.
Another stream had joined the Big Muddy
'Bout a half-mile from where we'd gone.
We were lucky to escape from the Big Muddy
When the big fool said to push on.

Well, I'm not going to point any moral;
I'll leave that for yourself.
Maybe you're still walking, you're still talking
You'd like to keep your health.
But every time I read the papers
That old feeling comes on;
We're
Waist deep in the Big Muddy
And the big fool says to push on.

Waist deep in the Big Muddy
And the big fool says to push on.
Waist deep in the Big Muddy
And the big fool says to push on.
Waist deep! Neck deep!
Soon even a tall man'll be over his head.
We're
Waist deep in the Big Muddy
And the big fool says to push on!

Yep. Well said, Pete.

Comments

[darksky23.livejournal.com]

I'd never heard that before... but it is fitting.

Waist deep, indeed.

[pekmez.livejournal.com]

Richard Shindell has a cover of that song on his (newest, I think) album Vuelta, and when we saw him in conert in 2004 he performed it with the same commentary...

[mamajoan.livejournal.com]

Heh, I guess it's kind of obvious.

Yeah, I learned about his cover of it when I was googling the song yesterday. I never even heard of Richard Shindell, but he sounds like my kind of guy. :)

[pekmez.livejournal.com]

yep, I think if you like old folk music you would also like Richard Shindell. we have most of his cds if you want to borrow or listen.

totally unrelated, but so my brain works

[lightningrose.livejournal.com]

you mentioned a scifi/fantasy book not too long ago which involved a female protagonist, the word "fire" in the title, and a female author. I scanned past postings, but couldn't locate it. Help?

Re: totally unrelated, but so my brain works

[mamajoan.livejournal.com]

LOL, you are much with the random. Well, that would be Women on Fire by the inimitable plaidder.

Re: totally unrelated, but so my brain works

[lightningrose.livejournal.com]

I got hit by a car. twice in four months. yea verily, my brain-basket is rattled....

Re: totally unrelated, but so my brain works

[mamajoan.livejournal.com]

hmm, this sounds like a job for my new hug icon!