Woody Guthrie's influence on Bob Dylan really cannot be understated. This is a pretty good example of Dylan paying a tribute to someone who was clearly one of his heros.
This first song is a ballad written by Woody about the Italian Hall Massacre. On Christmas Eve 1913 in the Calumet, Michigan Italian Hall, more than 500 striking miners and their families had gathered to celebrate the holiday on the second floor, at some point in the party someone yelled "Fire" causing a stampede to the only narrow stairway that led outside. Death and destruction ensued. Of the 73 people who died, 59 were children and most galling of all; there was no fire. It is believed that the person who yelled fire was an ally of mine management who's intent was to disrupt the party. Woody Tells it better than I can.
And the tribute to Woody, and one of my favorite Dylan songs.
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