I've always thought that this song must be a Guthrie song from the Dust Bowl. During the Dust Bowl in the 1930's 15% of the population of Oklahoma moved to California. The song suggests to me a yearning to move West to California and hopefully a chance at a life that was more than grinding poverty ("Tell me why I must keep workin' on..."). I think that GoodPoop makes a great observation that adds another level of depth to the song, the singer wants to dream with his love in ease and plenty in their bed with a quilt of a popular pattern which is used as a metaphor for the better life that awaits them in California (Jump up from my starbed make another day underneath my California stars").
@BeadBeeman Just found the answer to my own question online -
@BeadBeeman Just found the answer to my own question online -
"Woody Guthrie
Today is National Poetry Day in the UK, and the theme is “Stars.” What better way to salute British poetry than with a song penned by a quintessential American folk icon? California Stars is a beautiful poem/song written by Woody Guthrie, but never recorded until Wilco and Billy Bragg put it on Mermaid Avenue (1998), ...4 Oct 2012".
"Woody Guthrie
Today is National Poetry Day in the UK, and the theme is “Stars.” What better way to salute British poetry than with a song penned by a quintessential American folk icon? California Stars is a beautiful poem/song written by Woody Guthrie, but never recorded until Wilco and Billy Bragg put it on Mermaid Avenue (1998), ...4 Oct 2012".
......boy, how did Wilco and Billy Bragg locate it in the first place and know how to play it/know how it went?
......boy, how did Wilco and Billy Bragg locate it in the first place and know how to play it/know how it went?
I've always thought that this song must be a Guthrie song from the Dust Bowl. During the Dust Bowl in the 1930's 15% of the population of Oklahoma moved to California. The song suggests to me a yearning to move West to California and hopefully a chance at a life that was more than grinding poverty ("Tell me why I must keep workin' on..."). I think that GoodPoop makes a great observation that adds another level of depth to the song, the singer wants to dream with his love in ease and plenty in their bed with a quilt of a popular pattern which is used as a metaphor for the better life that awaits them in California (Jump up from my starbed make another day underneath my California stars").
@BeadBeeman Very well said Bead, particularly your last line there.
@BeadBeeman Very well said Bead, particularly your last line there.
I was trying to locate the original recording by Woody Guthrie. The version by Astrograss, to me, is absolutely fantastic.
I was trying to locate the original recording by Woody Guthrie. The version by Astrograss, to me, is absolutely fantastic.
@BeadBeeman Just found the answer to my own question online -
@BeadBeeman Just found the answer to my own question online -
"Woody Guthrie Today is National Poetry Day in the UK, and the theme is “Stars.” What better way to salute British poetry than with a song penned by a quintessential American folk icon? California Stars is a beautiful poem/song written by Woody Guthrie, but never recorded until Wilco and Billy Bragg put it on Mermaid Avenue (1998), ...4 Oct 2012".
"Woody Guthrie Today is National Poetry Day in the UK, and the theme is “Stars.” What better way to salute British poetry than with a song penned by a quintessential American folk icon? California Stars is a beautiful poem/song written by Woody Guthrie, but never recorded until Wilco and Billy Bragg put it on Mermaid Avenue (1998), ...4 Oct 2012".
......boy, how did Wilco and Billy Bragg locate it in the first place and know how to play it/know how it went?
......boy, how did Wilco and Billy Bragg locate it in the first place and know how to play it/know how it went?