It Could Have Been Me
1974 · Redwood 3700 · USA
- Artist
- Holly Near
- Title
- It Could Have Been Me
- Release
- A Live Album
- Year
- 1974
- Label
- Redwood # 3700
- Format
- LP · Live
- Language
- English
- Country
- USA
- Genre
- Folk · Contemporary Folk
- Primary theme
- Post-War
Annotation
In 1974 Holly Near, Californian born singer/songwriter recorded live the song "It Could Have Been Me" (Redwood Records # 3700), a response to the Kent State shooting. Holly Near had frequently taken part in anti-war demonstrations, and in 1971 joined the FTA Tour ("Free the Army"), and anti-Vietnam War roadshow. Organised by Jane Fonda, Donald Sutherland, and Fred Gardner, it was seen as a response to Bob Hope's USO tour (On the Road to Vietnam). The footage resulted in the 1972 film F.T.A. [Fuck the Army], as well as featuring in the 2005 documentary Sir! No Sir! (1) (2) (3) In the lyrics Holly Near described the clash between the students and the National Guard: "shot down by a nameless fire". As anybody could have been killed that day ("it could have been me"), she vowed to "keep doing the work you were doing". This song also featured on the 1975 album What Now, People? (Paredon Records # P-2001).
Annotation by Justin A. Brummer
About the artist
Born Ukiah, California, USA (6 June 1949)