The Draft Dodger Rag
1966 · Columbia 4-43699 · New York City, New York
- Artist
- Pete Seeger
- Title
- The 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
- Songwriter
- P. Ochs
- Genre
- Folk · Contemporary Folk
- Primary theme
- Peace, Protest & Anti-War
Annotation
On this single Pete Seeger covered the song "Draft Dodger Rag" (Columbia Records # 4-43699), composed by Phil Ochs, using a banjo. It featured on the album Dangerous Songs!? (CBS # 62751). In the song, Ochs listed every conceivable excuse available for somebody to avoid the draft. But firstly, it started with a young man expressing his hate of communism: "I knew better dead than red", and thus his patriotism: But when the draftee gets to the draftboard, the excuses started to pour out - drug addiction, enrollment in full-time education, a full-time carer for his disabled aunt, asthma, allergies, poor eyesight, working in a key defense industry, and the suggestion of being a homosexual ("I always carry a purse"). At the end, the draftee re-affirmed his hate of the communists, hoping that Chou En Lai would die (the Premier of the People's Republic of China, 1949-1976). However, he only wanted to go to "a war without any gore".Chad Mitchell Trio – Draft Dodger Rag (1964: Mercury # SR 60949) The Moonshiners – Draft Dodger Rag (1965: Village Gate # VLG 104) Denis Gibbons - National Service Blues (Draft Dodger Blues) (1965: W&G # 2594) Pete Seeger – The Draft Dodger Rag (1966: Columbia # 4-43699) Four in the Morning – Draft Dodger Rag (Crossroad # 7001) John Berry – Draft Dodger (Sound Inc. # S1-180) The Apples – Draft Dodgers Rag (Act 1 # 715)
Annotation by Justin A. Brummer
Notes
Columbia 4-43699, red label, 45 RPM, matrix JZSP 114551; "The Draft Dodger Rag" (P. Ochs), 2:08; accompanied by Fred Hellerman on vocal and guitar; produced by John Hammond. [From the record sleeve and labels]
About the artist
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. His body of songs referencing the Vietnam War is significant in both themes and volume: "The Willing Conscript" on the album Broadside Ballads Volume 2 (1963); "Beans in My Ear", "King Henry", and "The Draft Dodger Rag" on Dangerous Songs!?…
Themes
Anti-War · Draft · Draft Dodger · Fidel Castro · Drugs · Novelty
In collections
Draft Songs · Peace, Protest, & Anti-War Songs [War Years] · Pete Seeger Songs