18 Comments
User's avatar
Georgia Patrick's avatar

Great article, Susan. Thanksgiving classic. Good enough to be in the Macy parade. You nailed the landing with the final sentence. I wonder if everyone born after the 60's will look up whiskey and rye as the cultural standard for getting wasted. I suppose the modern equivalent is tequila shots and White Claw chasers. The words and the melody endure as one of our nation's theme songs.

Expand full comment
Susan OBrien's avatar

How flattering. Thank you, Georgia, for your incisive comments and continuing support. I appreciate both.

Expand full comment
Susan OBrien's avatar

Thank you for your incisive comments and continuing support, Georgia. I ddeply appreciate both.

Expand full comment
Jay Jay Eh's avatar

My first time here at this site — I like the use of this song in relation to our situation today.

— in fact quite often I see the world thro various songs … a friend will make a comment & an ‘appropriate associated song’ will pop into my head.

— I call it an affliction but my close friends roll with it. 🩵

Where are our Bob Dylans & Joan Baez-s today tho?

— Where are the anthem / protest songs today? We’re having to recycle the golden oldies, eh?

🎶 Seems like we actually are musically ‘speechless’ - has the music actually died? 🎶

Expand full comment
Susan OBrien's avatar

The music never dies. new anthems will arise.

Expand full comment
Jay Jay Eh's avatar

They’re taking their time tho. A young male folk / country protest guitarist on the Colbert Show recently - a sarcastic ‘Join Ice’ (to prop your ego & establish creds etc)

💠 JOIN ICE 🎶 Jesse WELLES — gorgeous young man & timely song!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=61I4hlig78w

Expand full comment
Susan OBrien's avatar

Thank you for the comment. Always fun to hear from you.

Expand full comment
Cherae Stone's avatar

Love this, Susan.

Well played.

#HoodFast

📎🖇️

Expand full comment
Janice Gary's avatar

Great piece. When I used to listen to “Pie”, I was too young to really understand what it was saying. Now I understand it all too well. Thanks for bringing it into focus.

Expand full comment
Karen Rand Anderson's avatar

Janice- same for me.

Expand full comment
Karen Rand Anderson's avatar

Thank you so much for this much needed post of Thanksgiving. I wore flowers in my hair and stars in my eyes back then— It was the time of peace love and tie dye; I was naive, but those days were important. We cannot waste single minute now. Things are far worse. Thanks for your good work!

Expand full comment
John Hammond's avatar

Thank you for this -- thinking about such an iconic song in relation to the disasters of today's self-dealing president. Good and great music is needed as much today as ever, as well as trying to manage hope and resilience these days.

Expand full comment
Bad Bunny's avatar

I hear Eswatini might be in the market for a new king. Too bad we only have an old one.

Expand full comment
Jerry's avatar

Great piece on before and now and how they are the same. Keep marching forward. Thanks for your words.

Expand full comment
DIANA ADMIRE's avatar

Ok…. Well my Mom died on Nov, 5th… so it was nice to give it a different reason to remember it.

Expand full comment
Susan OBrien's avatar

I am so sorry for your loss, Diana.

Expand full comment
Susan OBrien's avatar

So sorry for your loss, Diana.

Expand full comment
Abigail Thomas's avatar

Maybe not "the ax of exile." How about just the ax?

Getting caught up after Thanksgiving and a lot of very funny family.

But whisky and rye? That's MY drink. They can't have any of it.

Expand full comment