Ludlow Massacre

Woody Guthrie

About Ludlow Massacre

"Ludlow Massacre" is a song by Woody Guthrie about the Ludlow Massacre, a labor conflict in Ludlow, Colorado, in 1914. A related song is the "1913 Massacre". Woody Guthrie wrote: I made up these like I was there on the spot, the day and the night it happened. This is the best way to make up a song like this. When you read the life work of Mother Ella Reeves Bloor 'We Are Many' you will see this story of the Ludlow Massacre, you will be there, you will live it. Ludlow Massacre was one of the hundred of battles fought to build trade unions. I want to sing a song to show our soldiers that Ludlow Massacres must not ever come back to us to kill 13 children and a pregnant woman, just to force you to work for cheap wages. 


Year:
1976
3:29
72 
#8

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It was early springtime when the strike was on,
They drove us miners out of doors,
Out from the houses that the Company owned,
We moved into tents up at old Ludlow.

I was worried bad about my children,
Soldiers guarding the railroad bridge,
Every once in a while a bullet would fly,
Kick up gravel under my feet.

We were so afraid you would kill our children,
We dug us a cave that was seven foot deep,
Carried our young ones and pregnant women
Down inside the cave to sleep.

That very night your soldiers waited,
Until all us miners were asleep,
You snuck around our little tent town,
Soaked our tents with your kerosene.

You struck a match and in the blaze that started,
You pulled the triggers of your gatling guns,
I made a run for the children but the fire wall stopped me.
Thirteen children died from your guns.

I carried my blanket to a wire fence corner,
Watched the fire till the blaze died down,
I helped some people drag their belongings,
While your bullets killed us all around.

I never will forget the look on the faces
Of the men and women that awful day,
When we stood around to preach their funerals,
And lay the corpses of the dead away.

We told the Colorado Governor to call the President,
Tell him to call off his National Guard,
But the National Guard belonged to the Governor,
So he didn't try so very hard.

Our women from Trinidad they hauled some potatoes,
Up to Walsenburg in a little cart,
They sold their potatoes and brought some guns back,
And they put a gun in every hand.

The state soldiers jumped us in a wire fence corners,
They did not know we had these guns,
And the Red-neck Miners mowed down these troopers,
You should have seen those poor boys run.

We took some cement and walled that cave up,
Where you killed these thirteen children inside,
I said, "God bless the Mine Workers' Union,"
And then I hung my head and cried.

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Woody Guthrie

Woodrow Wilson "Woody" Guthrie (July 14, 1912 – October 3, 1967) was an American singer-songwriter and folk musician whose musical legacy includes hundreds of political, traditional and children's songs, ballads and improvised works. He frequently performed with the slogan This Machine Kills Fascists displayed on his guitar. His best-known song is "This Land Is Your Land." Many of his recorded songs are archived in the Library of Congress. Such songwriters as Bob Dylan, Phil Ochs, Bruce Springsteen, John Mellencamp, Pete Seeger, Joe Strummer, Billy Bragg, Jeff Tweedy and Tom Paxton have acknowledged Guthrie as a major influence. more »

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Written by: WOODY GUTHRIE

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10 facts about this song

Historical Context
The song "Ludlow Massacre" was inspired by a real historical event, specifically the Ludlow Massacre that took place on April 20, 1914, in Colorado. The event was a violent conflict between miners and mine security guards that resulted in multiple deaths.
Woody Guthrie's Inspiration
Woody Guthrie was a renowned folk singer known for his politically charged songs. He was moved to compose "Ludlow Massacre" after reading about the tragic event.
Song's Composition
Guthrie composed the song in 1944, about 30 years after the actual massacre. It became one of the earliest examples of protest songs in the folk music genre.
Introduction to a Later Work
The song "Ludlow Massacre" was instrumental in shaping Guthrie's later masterpiece album, "Dust Bowl Ballads."
Lyrical Context
The lyrics of Guthrie's "Ludlow Massacre" recount the horrific event, with lines like "The strikers' wives tried to fight back, but intoxicated troopers savagely attacked."
Musical Style
The song is typical of Guthrie's acoustic, folk style. It features simple guitar strumming and his distinctive, raw vocal quality.
Impact and Influence
Guthrie's song has been covered by other artists over the years, proving its influence within the folk and protest song tradition. It continues to remind listeners about this dark episode in American labor history.
Legacy
The song "Ludlow Massacre" was posthumously inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1988, a testament to its significant cultural contribution.
Documentary Element
Guthrie's songs often served as a form of oral history, and "Ludrow Massacre" is no exception. This song captures and helps in preserving a significant, tragic event from the past.
Social and Political Message
The song "Ludlow Massacre" is an example of Guthrie's commitment to social justice, reflecting his readiness to use music as a tool for socio-political change. It's a stark commentary on the hardships faced by working-class individuals and the mistreatment they received at the hands of those in power.

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