Hermanos Zaizar

I am in deepest California, which is Mexico, so we will sing. This is the Corrido del norte, in which Mexicanness is asserted: Nací en la frontera, de acá de este lado, de acá de este lado puro mexicano, por más que la gente me juzgue Texano, yo les aseguro que soy mexicano, de acá … More Hermanos Zaizar

Los Super Seven

It is the weekend, so we will sing! Here is a version of “Plane wreck at Los Gatos” I had not heard before. It is a very important song by Woody Guthrie, sung here by an important tejano group. The norteño accordeon comes in around 0:47 and surprised me with its combination of appropriateness and … More Los Super Seven

Eugène Pottier

The original Internationale arose from the Paris Commune and I am going to memorize it as an exercise in history. This is the first stanza. Debout! les damnés de la terre Debout! les forçats de la faim La raison tonne en son cratère, C’est l’éruption de la fin. Du passé faisons table rase Foule esclave, debout! … More Eugène Pottier

Phil Ochs

I am listening to Phil Ochs who died forty years ago this weekend. I remember that spring so clearly. There was so much foreboding, and there were so many elements and remnants left from a brighter past. These remnants were disappearing and I was a child growing with the sun and rain that filled us … More Phil Ochs