Where Have all the Flowers Gone is a singalong memoir written by Pete Seeger. This book is now in its third printing (including revisions and additional material). Stories and anecdotes are supported chronologically with approximately 200 songs (music and lyrics) that Pete wrote or with which he is associated – “Guantanamera,” “Where Have All The Flowers Gone,” “If I Had A Hammer,” “Turn Turn Turn,” “Wimoweh,” “We Shall Overcome” plus some new songs and more. Within these pages, Pete provides perspectives on everything from songwriting and the music business to social activism – including insight drawn from his experiences with the labor, peace, civil rights and environmental movements.
These pages from Where Have all the Flowers Gone feature one of the newer songs written by Pete, added to the book for this new edition. “Take It from Dr. King” is Pete’s tribute to the late, great civil rights leader.
(44 votes)
Loading ...
What can we do now for Obama and the US using Pete Seeger’s singing and techniques?
Great show about a great folk singer and a great AMERICAN.
Katherine, I was thinking the same thing. Let’s put our heads together & work it out. Plenty would want to join. jwwostal@sbcglobal.net jw
What a beautiful tribute to a beautiful soul. We too have an election in Canada and wish we could find it in our hearts to vote with our hearts for a cleaner, safer world for all. Maybe if all the candidate sat down to watch Pet Seeger…
I too thought the documentary was extraordinary.
And I couldn’t help but make the association between
Pete Seeger and Obama’s campaign for president.
I sense a similarity of spirit and it would be
wonderful to bring community song into the campaign.
I know some friends who are working the Kauai, Hawaii
campaign. I think I’ll mention it to them.
I’ve always believed that the greatest patriots are those who are not afraid to criticise. Pete Seeger, who has always been a warrior for social justice, turned me on to the ills of this world but also gave me hope that “We shall Overcome”
My grandfather and my father fought in two world wars. I marched in my country against the war in Vietnam and now my son as a Masters graduate aims to work for an NGO Third World development programme. My Grandfather would be proud of him. Pete Seeger has had a lot to do with the course my family has taken.
Unfortunately I recently met, in the USA, a boy just returned from his duty in Iraq. He said he went because his grandfather and father fought for their country so he figured it was his duty to do so too regardless of the reason for the war.
I’m reminded of Pete Seeger’s words
“To Fight perchance to Win, aye there’s the rub.
For Victory brings Power and Prestige,
And the Children of the Children of the Fighters,
Take all for granted and, in turn Opress.”
One of my favorite songs from the sixties is Pete’s “I Can See a New Day”. It seems especially timely today, and I hope that he will lead it at his and Arlo Guthrie’s song fest at Carnegie Hall with their families this Saturday.
He is a nominee for a Grammy – let’s hope he receives this well-deserved honor.
Per Katherine Zieman and JW Wostal’s comments, I can just imagine all 1 million gathered at the upcoming inauguration singing “We Shall Overcome” – perhaps changing it to “We Have Overcome”. I’m delighted to note that he is a nominee for a Grammy. I have very much enjoyed The Power of Song when it’s been broadcast on PBS.
The Power of Song from the life of Pete Seeger brought me to tears. He is truly a man of integrity, courage and great talent. What a wonderful human being he is. The documentary was very powerful. I am so greatful to PBS for providing this programming for us.
Valerie, I think it will be a long time before we have overcome. But Pete helped us go forward on the path.
from japan
we would like to see the film the power of song.
I grew up on the Weavers and songs like “Abiyoyo”… I hope from the Obama inauguration concert- or maybe the appearance on Letterman singing Take It From Dr. King (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O4yKFsanqSo) – I hope lots of younger people come to this site and learn more about Seeger and his legacy.
I have lived in the Hudson Valley for my entire life (44 yrs.) and only recently have “discovered” Pete Seeger, and I am in complete awe of his life. I feel almost cheated for not knowing about him, even though as a grade school student I was taught a lot of songs and to know he lived here in the Hudson Valley my life, is kind of like opening your back door one day to see the Grand Canyon. The more I learn about him the more I cannot help to think that the path our country has taken over the course of the last 60 or so years, has been morally and figuratively guided along by Pete. The way he has lived his life, never shrinking in the face adversity, taking on the good fight, seeing both sides of issues and all without malice towards those who wished to silence him. I would have to dub him the “American Saint”.
would very much like to contact Pete Seeger, my husband is the exec. producer of Moody Blugrass, and is currently working on Moody Bluegrass Two Much Love, Another Nashville Tribute to the Moody Blues. He’d like to invite Pete. Is this at all possible?
Plz advise! Thanks much!
The power of song opened my eyes to a lot of things that pete seeger helped change that might still be swept under the carpet,hadn’t been for PETE SEEGER.
I have to admit, Pete (and Arlo – and his dad, Woody’s music), helped me raise my kids to possess the values and beliefs they possess to this day – justice, fairness, and equality/equity.
If they want to call us “Socialists” so be it — we just believe those who produce should be FAIRLY rewarded for their efforts – not just feed the greed of the CEOs and Corporate Executives who make millions and/or billions while others lose their livelihoods and/or retirement savings.
Cindyrae:
Anything is possible; remember the Six? Degrees of Separation? The only question is, how to make the connection to him – how to make that happen?
I am looking forward to his 90th Birthday celebration at MSG in NYC the day after tomorrow! :) Inspiring, wonderful man. I am fortunate to live in the same town, Beacon, NY, as Pete Seeger, where he is very much visable and active. If you want to contact him you can at:: Pete Seeger, P.O. Box 431, Beacon, NY 12508. :)
Like many of the others that posted, I grew up on Pete Seeger’s music. I had the pleasure of meting him, as well as the other members of the Weavers) at the rehearsal party for their 1980 reunion at Carnegie Hall. Even though I was only 10 years old at the time, meeting them most definitely shaped my life. Thank you Pete for teaching me that dreams are possible if you’re willing to stand up for what you believe in.
I grew up singing Pete Seeger songs..Innocent of what transpired in his life and the secrets of how he and his family were treated by the FBI seems to defeat the purpose of democracy. It is all kind of confusing to say the least as Pete Seeger songs encouraged all of us to take part of being part of the solution and caring for the environment around us to have a future for ourselves and the children of our children.
[...] Where Have all the Flowers Gone is a sing-along memoir written by Pete Seeger. This book is now in its third printing (including revisions and additional material). Stories and anecdotes are supported chronologically with approximately 200 songs (music and lyrics) that Pete wrote or with which he is associated – “Where Have All The Flowers Gone,” “If I Had A Hammer,” “Turn Turn Turn,” “We Shall Overcome” plus some new songs and more. Within these pages, Pete provides perspectives on everything from songwriting and the music business to social activism – including insight drawn from his experiences with the labour, peace, civil rights and environmental movements. http://www.pbs.org/wnet/americanmasters/episodes/pete-seeger/the-power-of-song/50/ [...]
Hello from Australia – I’m wanting to organise an interview with Pete Seeger for a global peace initiative that will take place in Australia at the end of this year and would be grateful if anyone can provide contact details to assist this – many thanks Jane Sloane
So many of us grew up on his songs, and those of the Weavers and their ilk. What a gift to have him as an inspiration! His music has touched 4 generations in my family. It warms my heart to read these comments and see that he still moves us to be better people.
I performed at MSG with PETE… “Our plight shall be heard and seen…” Victorio Roland Mousaa (NAICA)
The fact that Pete and The Weavers were black listed in the 1950’s by the US government proves that he is a powerful force in the entire world and had those fools scared to death. His music and his personal exanple will live for hundreds of years and perhaps help us to last that long. He has no peer! His greatest contribution is that he made us all feel much better about being a member of the human race. He actually created all the great folk artists who arose later.
He does deserve the Nobel Peace Prize 40 years ago. What is the hold-up?
An ignurt hillbilly.
Sam’l A. Weston
It wouldve been good if Bob Dylan turned up, but wasnt Seeger incensed about Bobs electric performance at Newport in the 60s and gonna cut the cables? As legend goes. Im sure he did what he thought was right at the time and Im sure hes a nice guy but I dont feel his music ever progressed beyond the form he had it in in the 50’s 60’s, essentially nursery rhymes. As a man he stands for social justice, but as a songwriter and singer I think he was lucky
“Our plight shall heard and seen… even tho PBS cut us Native American Indians out!” Victorio Roland Mousaa (I performed at MSG)
Coming of age in the 60,s I remember Pete,s show on PBS and how it moved me as a young man.I’ve always believed that Pete’s was the little voice in the back of our heads urging us towards the right path