Day 13, Song 15

U.S. Elevator [featuring Mac McCaughan and Tim Bluhm]

Old Man Trump

U.S. Elevator is comprised of Johnny Irion, Alan Kozlowski, Brett Long, Anders Bergstrom, Nate Modisette, and Erich Ried. This track features Mac McCaughan and Tim Bluhm.

In 1950, American raconteur and folk icon ‪Woody Guthrie wrote a song about his landlord. It took over half a century for these lyrics to surface, but earlier this year, Guthrie scholar Will Kaufman unearthed the handwritten lyrics while performing research at the Woody Guthrie Archives in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Normally a discovery like this would be notable for the folk set and Guthrie fanatics – but this song, and this year is different. Woody’s landlord was none other than Fred Trump, father of Donald J. Trump, and the subject matter could have been pulled directly from the campaign of 2016.

Now, in partnership with the Guthrie archives and the Guthrie family, Woody’s words have been put to music by California rock band U.S. Elevator; fronted by Johnny Irion who is married to Sarah Lee Guthrie, Woody’s granddaughter.

With a historic and handwringing election just a month away, U.S. Elevator is available to perform Woody Guthrie’s words at Democratic and Progressive events. US Elevator is offering this as a special engagement and not as promotion.

We want Americans to hear what Woody had to say so that we remember that his wisdom – as well as the judgment of our country’s great thinkers, writers, artists, and singers – can protect us from treading dangerous paths.

Lyrics

I suppose that Old Man Trump knows just how much racial hate He stirred up in that bloodpot of human hearts When he drawed that color line Here at his Beach Haven family project Beach Haven ain't my home! No, I just can't pay this rent! My money's down the drain, And my soul is badly bent! Beach Haven is Trump’s Tower Where no black folks come to roam, No, no, Old Man Trump! Old Beach Haven ain't my home! I'm calling out my welcome to you and your man both Welcoming you here to Beach Haven To love in any way you please and to have some kind of a decent place To have your kids raised up in. Beach Haven ain't my home! No, I just can't pay this rent! My money's down the drain, And my soul is badly bent! Beach Haven is Trump’s Tower Where no black folks come to roam, No, no, Old Man Trump! Old Beach Haven ain't my home! -- Words by Woody Guthrie Mixed by Ryan Williams Mastered by JJ Golden Produced by Tim Bluhm & U.S. Elevator Engineered by Brett Long