Draft Dodger Rag
1966 · Columbia 4-43699 · New York City, New York
- Artist
- Pete Seeger
- Title
- Draft Dodger Rag
- Release
- The Draft Dodger Rag / Guantanamera
- Year
- 1966
- Label
- Columbia # 4-43699
- Format
- 7" · Single
- Language
- English
- Country
- New York City, New York, USA
- Genre
- Folk · Folk
- Primary theme
- Peace, Protest & Anti-War
Annotation
Iconic American contemporary folk singer, Pete Seeger (born 3 May 1919 in Manhattan, New York, USA, died on 27 January 2014, same location) played a key role in the 1950s contemporary folk revival and the 1960s anti-war and Civil Rights movement. He often wrote political songs, protesting against war, segregation, and calling for environmental protection. (1) His body of songs referencing the Vietnam War is significant in both themes and volume [currently 18 identified]: "The Willing Conscript" on the album Broadside Ballads Volume 2 (1963); "Beans in My Ear", "King Henry", and "The Draft Dodger Rag" on the Dangerous Songs!? (1966); "Waist Deep in the Big Muddy" and "Down By the Riverside" on the album Waist Deep in the Big Muddy and Other Love Songs (1967); "Backlash Blues", "Talking Ben Tre", and "The Torn Flag" on the album Pete Seeger Now (1968); "Anti-Vietnam Songs / Waist Deep in the Big Muddy / Arts in a Changing Society / Violence and Protest" featured on the live album Sings and Answers Questions (1968); "Bring Them Home" and "Ballad of the Fort Hood Three" on the album Young vs. Old (1969); "I Feel Like I'm Fixin' to Die Rag" (1970) [promo single-only]; "Last Train to…
Annotation by Justin A. Brummer
Annotation — Draft Songs
Iconic American folk singer, Seeger played a key role in the 1950s folk revival and the 1960s anti-war movement. He often wrote political songs, protesting against war, segregation, and calling for environmental protection. (1) On this single Pete Seeger covered song "Draft Dodger Rag" (Columbia Records # 4-43699), composed by Phil Ochs, using a banjo, in which the narrator received a draft letter, went to the draftboard, and then listed reasons why he could not serve in Vietnam: "I'm just a typical American boy from a typical American town. And when it came my time to serve...I got to the draft board, this is what I said...". It featured on the album Dangerous Songs!? (CBS # 62751).
Annotation by Justin A. Brummer
About the artist
Born 3 May 1919 in Manhattan, New York, USA, died on 27 January 2014, same location
Themes
Anti-War · Draft · Draft Dodger · Fidel Castro · Drugs · Novelty
In collections
Draft Songs · Peace, Protest, & Anti-War Songs · Pete Seeger Songs