Whats it like hearing “Bad Repetation” after only vaguely knowing of its existence for so many years?
I always loved that lyric. It’s a side of Woody that’s very mischievous. It’s in his political songs as well as his love songs, lots of irony and double entendre and humor. One part of the story I like to introduce to the public discussion … is to talk about the use of humor and the light touch that he had. He’s basically himself in each song he sings. He did mix it up. Woody’s approach to political conversation is very light and very palatable and might have something to teach us. You can have irony and wit and humor talking about serious subjects. When he says, ‘Some rob you with a six gun, some with a fountain pen,’ it’s Jon Stewart. There’s a Jon Stewart side to Woody that’s ironic and humorous and witty. That’s what Billy [Bragg] was able to tap into. All the things he responded to were things like that, a certain sophistication of humor that we now appreciate in Jon Stewart or Stephen Colbert. Are there Woody items you can’t get your hands on? He was notorious for leaving thing
