619

Woody Guthrie

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles / Autographs Start Price:NA Estimated At:3,000.00 - 3,500.00 USD
Woody Guthrie

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Auction Date:2014 Jun 18 @ 18:00 (UTC-05:00 : EST/CDT)
Location:236 Commercial St., Suite 100, Boston, Massachusetts, 02109, United States
ALS - Autograph Letter Signed
ANS - Autograph Note Signed
AQS - Autograph Quotation Signed
AMQS - Autograph Musical Quotation Signed
DS - Document Signed
FDC - First Day Cover
Inscribed - “Personalized”
ISP - Inscribed Signed Photograph
LS - Letter Signed
SP - Signed Photograph
TLS - Typed Letter Signed
TLS with a typed lyrical manuscript, one page, 8.5 x 13, April 30, 1946. Exceptional letter including five verses and the chorus of “Bugeye Jim,” making one handwritten correction to the chorus. The lyrics begin: “Woke up this morning with an aching brain / Heard you knock at my window pane / I laid on my pillow and I held my breath / I could not move I was scared to death.” Below, Guthrie types a lengthy explanation of of his musical approach, the folk heritage, and the evolution of traditional songs. In part: “I told Marjorie this night that the reason why I wrote this old song up with these new words was to show a kind of change that these old songs are always going through. I told her that when I walked into a tavern, a hotel lobby, a union hall, a ranch dance, anywhere at all, that I would hear such songs as this. Only one or two I could take down with my pencil and paper, the others I could only try and remember. I could not always remember them the same as the other folks had sung or played them. I could remember the main idea, the main stem and story. Then I would catch myself humming it and whistling it and wishing that I could play and sing it. Lots of the time somebody would offer me a nickel or a dime to sing the song, and I would never let them back me down. If I did not know it the way you knew it, I would tell you that my version was several years older than yours, anyhow. I would sing out verses that would just come to me, sort of, out of everywhere. I would open my mouth and lay back my head and sing her right on out. I had to do this because I needed your nickel for my beer, I needed the money for my sweet thing the same as you needed the song for yours. And about half of the time you believed me. I have never admitted to you nor anybody else that I did not know any song, I got past that stage when I was fifteen or sixteen or somewhere around in there. For a tip, for a coin, for a strip of legal green, I can sing you some sort of version of any song in the world if you ask it and name the title. This is one of the main ways that these old songs get stirred around, made newer, made better, made worse, made longer, made shorter. And I am writing up this whole book of songs here to make you feel just this nervy when anybody asks you to sing (or to make up) any song in the world. New models of old clothes and cars come out every little while. Make it this way when you sing your songs. Make them up and shake them up. And don’t never pass up a chance to snap at a biscuit.” Intersecting folds (one tiny edge separation repaired with tape to reverse, scattered creases, and light toning to edges, otherwise fine condition.

Guthrie initially recorded this original song for his publisher using a portable reel-to-reel recorder, but it was never released commercially and remained essentially unknown until Billy Bragg and Wilco recorded a cover of it for their Mermaid Avenue album, which was comprised entirely of new songs using Guthrie’s previously unheard lyrics. Even more remarkable than the unreleased lyrics contained within this letter is Guthrie’s thoughtful exploration of the folk tradition, including the discussion of his own songwriting process and improvisation techniques. An amazing letter with content of the highest caliber, written during the most prolific period of Guthrie’s career.