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Bonus Track: That Old Banjo

from Rough Cuts by Great Blue

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about

Steve wrote this song for Pete Seeger's banjo, which has "lifted hearts this whole world 'round". Although Pete echews the "cult of personality," he often cannot avoid a spotlight being on him. He and his wife Toshi need to be honored together for working so hard for peace and justice. That Old Banjo symbolizes that work. This bonus track is an initial cut. We hope to add Eric Weissberg, who played this tune with us at a festival in 2012, on a banjo track ASAP.

lyrics

That Old Banjo
© 2003 by Steve B. Kaplan

That old banjo’s slim and long
It can play a breakdown, back up a song
It’s fought for rights, seen many a wrong
That banjo’s stood its ground
That old banjo travels well
Its owner rings it just like a bell
It sings for freedom’s truth to tell
You can’t mistake its sound

Chorus:
This machine … surrounds hate
And forces it to surrender
It sings right out its not too late
To play just one more song
Come and sing together!

That old banjo stands up tall
It can hurl an idea over a wall
It can reach those who can’t see at all
Where others fear to tread
That old banjo’s magic sound
Has lifted hearts the whole world ’round
Its message can be clearly found
In the words etched ’round its head --> Chorus

That old banjo boldly leads
It spreads its notes like apple seeds
They flower tall among the weeds
Shining brightly in the sun
That old banjo’s led a crowd
Of joyful people singing out loud
This banjo can be awfully proud
Of the good work it has done --> Chorus

credits

from Rough Cuts, released April 3, 2013
Steve B. Kaplan, voice and acoustic guitar
Shirl Lawrence, backing vocals
(Words and music © 2003 by Steve B. Kaplan; recorded by
Fred Gillen Jr.; 3:37)

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all rights reserved

tags

about

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Great Blue Estes Park, Colorado

Shirl Lawrence & Steve Kaplan (a/k/a Great Blue) have been making music for more than 3 decades. Their beautifully crafted harmonies have been heard at coffeehouses in the Hudson Valley. They now reside on the Front Range in Colorado, where they deliver songs to warm the heart and feed the soul. They named themselves “Great Blue” after the observant heron they often find during their kayak trips. ... more

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