Alice's Restaurant - Original 1967 Recording

[MinM]

Arlo Guthrie on 'Stupid' Politicians and 50 Years of Thanksgiving Classic 'Alice's Restaurant'

The eccentric folk singer reflects on the five decades since his iconic counterculture song, and tells The Daily Beast what he thinks of the current state of American politics.

Fifty years ago, Arlo Guthrie took out the trash after Thanksgiving dinner. Little did he know the subsequent chain of events would lead to his most celebrated song, “Alice’s Restaurant Massacree”—an 18-minute deadpan-and-guitar monologue.

Every Thanksgiving Day for the past several decades, radio stations across the country play the slapstick story of Guthrie dumping trash at a popular cliff, getting arrested for littering the next day, and eventually being told he’s ineligible for the Vietnam War draft because of the citation.

“Alice’s Restaurant” has been made into a feature-length film, been used as an anti-war rallying cry (“[They] to know if I’m moral enough to join the Army—burn women, kids, houses and villages—after bein’ a litterbug,” he snarks at the song’s climax), and launched the storied career of the son of legendary folk pioneer Woody Guthrie.

But the 68-year-old Arlo doesn’t like to play it live that often. He saves it for one year out of every decade.

And so ten months ago, Guthrie and a small band set out on the road for his “‘Alice’s Restaurant’ 50th Anniversary Tour,” playing almost nightly to theaters across the country...

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2015/11/26/arlo-guthrie-on-stupid-politicians-and-50-years-of-thanksgiving-classic-alice-s-restaurant.html

Here in Michigan WRIF out of Detroit plays it every Thanksgiving at noon.

[LiberalArkie]

1. A very good article. Must read.

Speaking of being politically vocal: In 2012, you were a big Ron Paul supporter. What do you make of the current landscape?

As you can imagine, I took a lot of flak from a lot of people, but I still stand by what I said back then, which was: Ron Paul was one of the few voices back then, at least on that side of the aisle, that was opposed to our adventurism in the Middle East. And that doesn’t negate every stupid thing he might’ve said. Nobody’s immune. There were things I agreed with, and things I did not. I felt the need to support him for that view at that time. And I would do it again.

Who do you like now that he’s not running for 2016?

Now we find ourselves in a completely different world. I love Bernie Sanders, naturally. Who wouldn’t? But I don’t agree with him on everything. To be honest, what I do is I take a longer view. I know that it doesn’t matter as much who the president is as who the people feel they are. That’s what really changes the world. If we’re waiting for some guy or gal to fix everything, that’s a fool’s errand. I think it’s really important for people to do what they can, where they are, in their own hometowns and if it seems like a good idea, you’ll get some support. That’s how I think the world evolves. It does not evolve dependent on leaders.

I take that seriously. That was the main message my father had for the people he wrote for: take yourself seriously. You count. And when I see people in positions of authority trying to silence the voice of others, I get pissed off. The world really does require us to pay attention. Sure, there are natural ebbs and flows to the rivers of evolution—sometimes it’s gonna go left, sometimes right. No river runs straight down. So when somebody promises you a straight path, look out.

[mahannah]

2. Thanks for the reminder. Greetings from SWMI (Kalamazoo).

[tularetom]

3. A thanksgiving day tradition at our house

My wife is tired of hearing it.

My kids roll their eyes.

My grandkids don't get it.

My great grandkids love it

But I play it anyway. Two or three times.

Its a big deal with me because once, about 15 years ago, I woke up one Thanksgiving morning, forgot what day it was and drove 10 or 12 miles to the dump with a pickup load of junk. Of course I didn't dump the stuff, I turned around and drove home, endured my wife chortling at me, and then remembered the song.

Its been a staple ever since.

[emanymton]

4. You Can Get anything You Want ... At Alice's Restaunt!

.

Walk right in, it's around the back.

You can get what ever you want at Alice's Restaurant!!

Walk right in it's around the back ...

Well hell. If this is a movement, get up and sing, "You can get what ever you want, at ALICE'S Restaurant!!!

Feel The Bern ... Thanks Obama ...

Ema Nymton
~ @ : o ?
.

[malthaussen]

5. Excepting Alice. n/t

[gregcrawford]

6. LOVE that song!

I used to live in southern Berkshire County back in the 60's, and I met Alice Brock a few times, though I didn't know her well. After that album came out, she opened a place on 183 just outside of Stockbridge called "Take-Out Alice." GREAT food! She wanted to call it "Eat-Out Alice," but the town wouldn't let her. Can't imagine why.

Later she opened a place with Officer Obanheim (All the people named in that song are real, including the blind judge!) right next to Tanglewood. For those not familiar with New England, Tanglewood is one of the premier venues for classical music, and is the summer home of the Boston Symphony Orchestra. Leonard Bernstein loved Tanglewood, and practically lived there.

Officer Obie became chief, both his sons were in trouble constantly, at least one was a junkie, and I'm pretty sure one of them offed himself while in his father's jail, though that may be an apocryphal tale. Obie was not well liked.

Arlo still lives in the area.