January 20, 2017. Some of my friends and family are exulting in their political triumph. Some of my friends and family are in mourning. Some of my friends and family are tending to their own and awaiting developments.
Me, I plan to heed the words of my musical hero Dave Alvin and just keep rockin’.
I knew last summer, as soon as the major party nominees were set, that I was going to hate the outcome of the 2016 election. I deeply despise Donald Trump. I also deeply despise Hillary Clinton. I wrote in another hero — Jim Webb — on my ballot, because I truly believe in the values and policy stances he holds. I still think he’d make a great president. Doesn’t matter. He ain’t.
So what can a poor boy do?
It ain’t in me to check out completely, to make like John Lee Pettimore’s granddaddy and only come to town about twice a year. Nor can I abide obsessing about the latest outrage or immersing myself in non-stop bloviating over what has become a form of politico-entertainment.
I’m walking a narrow path — paying attention, but disciplining myself to keep my engagement limited to things that I can actually affect, to productive work in the field I have chosen. That means continuing to tell stories that need to be told and building a good life among a strong and resilient community of whole-souled comrades. I believe that doing these things is a political — and cultural and even spiritual — act.
Dave Alvin posted something on the Book of Face that went down— and went to my head — like smooth, 101-proof whiskey. X-ring, Dave. I’m right there with you.
American Folk Music has always been about struggle, hope and survival. Whether acoustic or electric, traditional or modern, from the Blues to murder ballads, from Memphis Minnie and Big Bill Broonzy to Woody Guthrie and Merle Haggard, from the godless back alley Staggerlee to the sanctified Sunday morning choir to the picket line shouters to the cowboy crooners to the punk kid bashing too loud on his first guitar, our music is what unites us, gets us through tough times, gets our feet moving, our hearts pounding and our spirits soaring.
It may not have the cultural-social impact it used to have for everyone but it still does for me. I try my best to be part of this long tradition and I will continue to proudly play American Music, and it’s songs of hard realities, tragic injustices, and big dreams, no matter what. I’ll be playing it tonight and tomorrow night at McCabe’s and will be playing it wherever I go until they spread my ashes somewhere in the California mountains. As an old rockabilly singer once told me, “Keep rockin’.” I say the same to all of you.
Wayne says
Sage advice. I plan to rock through the next 4 years, and work toward a brighter future in the long run.
JimC says
Right on, amigo. No matter what.
Dick Sandvik says
But we cannot “normalize” the behavior and propaganda of Trump and his consiglieres. 1930’s Germany should always be somewhere in the back of our minds. I fear that it “could happen here” if right minded citizens are essentially passive…..
Annie says
I feel much the same way, though I did write-in a different name, I think our act of voting for someone we believed in was much the same. Yes, “keep on rocking” ~ if I had a bumper I would sticker that.
JimC says
I hear ya Annie! Bumper stickers should be issued!
Matthew says
This was the election where America became an episode of South Park.
That said I think that getting up in the morning and going to do your job is more important than whose in the White House. Not that I don’t think you should not be involved in politics. Just don’t pin all your hopes on someone in Washington.
JimC says
Like Ronnie said:
I’m telling you all beware
I don’t think they really care
I think they just sit up there
And just get high.
Fletcher Vredenburgh says
Can’t disagree with Dave’s admonition at all. Now, watching the children burn things and jack a person or two up before DJT’s done anything makes me think it might be a little tougher than that.
JimC says
We’re in a crash phase. It’s going to get tough indeed over the next 20 years. We must prepare our kids to be smart, nimble and resilient cause it’s gonna be a bumpy ride for them.
steve bodio says
Sane as always, Jim. We’ll survive.Hell, I’LL survive, and i have felt better– getting a tune up and oil change next month.
JimC says
So good to hear from you Steve. Been thinking of you.
Wayne says
The pendulum swings. I can only hope we’ll see a step in the direction of civility, honesty, and responsibility if we can survive the current president. It’s not going to be easy to wait this one out, and it has never been more true that, “eternal vigilance is the price of liberty.”