what he wants to give back. Most of us can only raise our voices, and hope to continue down the -sometimes difficult -path he started us on.

Farewell Pete.
You made so many lives better,
cheered the hearts of generations of children.
It was a privilege singing along with you

Grant me, and all of us, the strength and courage to keep on "strugglin on..."
singing a 'Seeger song'


My life goes on in endless song
Above earth's lamentations,
I hear the real, though far-off hymn
That hails a new creation.

No storm can shake my inmost calm,
While to that rock I'm clinging.
Since love is lord of heaven and earth
How can I keep from singing?

All the Seegers -Pete, Peggy, Mike were familiar recordings around our house as I grew up, so when I was fortunate to 'work' along side of Pete at numerous Hudson Clearwater Revival festivals back in the 1970's Pete seemed more like a kindly uncle than a folk superstar. Not sure if any of us really actually 'worked along side of him'. It felt like we were always trotting behind him trying to keep up with his seemingly boundless energy! As we ended late nights of singing in a dining area, Pete would quietly get up and resume sweeping up the place. Early in the mornings, as we were just getting up, there was Pete already picking up litter from the fields. I said good morning Pete, how ya doing, and he'd say: "Oh, strugglin on, strugglin on"

One other time I got the chance to sing FOR Pete at a singer/songwriter weekend event. Pete was very kind to each of us in his critique of our songs, even if you could tell he wasn't too impressed. To me he said "Well, but don't take my opinion as gospel, long ago I told Woody that I didn't think much of his new song "This Land is Your Land"" Pete was always so encouraging of ANYONE to make music and sing your heart out.

Thanks Pete for all the courage you showed, by example, to stand up for progressive causes with grace. And for inspiring generations of kids to feel like they could (should!) get up and sing. That music for humans, like for birds, was in our nature, and we should not just leave it to the professionals and pop stars!

I picture you in heaven rousing a group of harp players to join in one of my favorite songs of yours as you got older: Old Devil Time:



May you ever keep on "strugglin on, strugglin on"