One Of The Things I'm Most Proud

When I Am Chopping Trees Out In The Woods Because I Heat My House With Wood, I Feel Myself Right In The Middle Of God. Mahalia Jackson Said "i Have Seen God. I Have Seen The Sun Rise." So, In A Sense, When Anyone Looks In The Mirror, They Look At An Infinitesimally Small Part Of God.

My Father Urged Alan [lomax] Not To Repeat The Mistakes Of The European Folklorists Who, A Century Ago, Had Collected These Peasant Songs And Then Arranged Them For Part Choir And Accompanied Them On Piano, And Then Told The Young People Of Their Country, "don't Change A Note, This Is Our Sacred Heritage." Father Said, Whether It's A Fiddle Tune Or A Gospel Song, Learn It Right Off The Record From The People Who Grew Up With It. Don't Just Learn It From A Piece Of Paper.

My Father, Charles Seeger, Got Me Into The Communist Movement. He Backed Out Around '38. I Drifted Out In The 50's.

I Write A Song Because I Want To. I Think The Moment You Start Writing It To Make Money, You're Starting To Kill Yourself Artistically.

I Came From An Intellectual Family. Most Were Doctors, Preachers, Teachers, Businessmen. My Grandfather Was A Small Businessman. His Father Was An Abolitionist Doctor, And His Father Was An Immigrant From Germany.