Too many years ago when Wakonda High School and Irene High School were separate entities and basketball rivals and before the Irene-Wakonda School District, the Wakonda, SD, bus riders would serenade Irene, SD after ball games.
We would toss the bus windows down and sing "Irene, Good night Irene" with as much volume as we could muster whether or not the Irene Cardinals defeated the Wakonda Warriors or not. Folk music still wasn't much at that time, but it was a time when the 1953 very popular song was still remembered even if we weren't aware of the writer or the political relations related to him or even much about folk music. And we were certainly unaware of his fight with the House UnAmerican Activities committee.
[[[Note of Feb2,2014]]]: A friend who knows a lot more about music than I do reminded me that Pete Seeger did not write "Good Night Irene". It was actually written by Huddie "Lead Belly" Ledbetter around 1933. The song became a big hit when The Weavers (including Pete Seeger) had a big hit with it in 1950. "Good Night, Irene" was on the music charts for 25 weeks.
So, rest in peace, Pete Seeger,(deceased Jan 27, 2014) and thanks for the memories and those refreshed, re-learned or just now realized.
NPR does this a lot better than I do.
*** Stay tuned even if you are tone deaf and totally musically and politically unaware--- Doug Wiken
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