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FORM A
Circumstanies of Interview
NAME OF WORKER Harley Anderson ADDRESS Niobrara, Nebr.
DATE
January 28, 1939
SUBJECT
Farm Holiday songs
1. Name and address of informant Louis W. Larsen
2. Date and time of interview Jan. 28, 1939, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
3. Place of interview At his farm ten miles east of town
4. Name and address of person, if any, who put you in touch with
informant
Noratz Kemp, Niobrara, Nebraska
5. Name and a(lc"ress of person, if any, accompanying you Lioratz Kemp
6. Description of room, house, surroundings, etc. The farm consists
of 240 acres of land very hilly.
FMB
Personal History of Informant
NAME OF WORKER Harley Anderson ADDRESS Niobrara, Nebraska
DATE Jan 28, 1939 SUBJECT Farm Holiday songs
NAME AND ADDRESS OF INFORMANT Louis W. Larsen
1. Anoestry Danish extraction
2. Place and date of birth Omaha, Nebr., April 30, 1885
3. amily Wife and 2 girls and 2 boys
4. Place lived in, with dates Nebraska except 1 year 6 no. in Penn.
5. 14ucation, with dates High school
6. Occupations and accomplishments Farming, plant and florist
7. Special skills and interests plant propagation a hobby, writing a
hobby and farming a vocation
8. Community and religious activities Bolden rule
9. Description of informant Stout blond and friendly disposition
10. Other points gained in interview Feels the masses are victims of
a planned exploitation by a
visoious class of legal bandits.
FORM C
Text of Interview (Unedited)
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DATE..Jextuarjr.2s,.1959.... SUBJECT..Farn.13oliclay. season.
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In 1933 due to the economical condition the people seemed to rise
in one aocord in self defense and staged marches on various State
Capitols in protest against threatened persecution by the wealthy
oorporations, Banks and many individuals. And a large froup known
as Farmer's Holiday became organized to stop forcedsales evictions
and foreclosures of homes, and in this movement songs pertinent to
oonditions were composed and sung to the relief of the expression of
the many people. As to myself farming never appealed to me but being
only son I sacrificed a personal desire to /write and become a commercial
florist to stay on and help with the farm work, in other words I feel
I have been a peg in square hole and never really fitted my plaot to
best advantage for personal advancement..
Here are some of his songs:
Tune: Nellie Grey. In the oammonwealth that is to be.
In the gloom of mighty cities mid the roar of whirling wheels.
We are toiling on like chattel slaves of old and our masters hope to
keep us ever thus beneath their heels.
And to coin our very life blood into gold.
-2
Cho.
Oh we have a glorious dream of how fair this world would seem
When eaoh man can live his life secure and free
When the earth is awned by labor and there is joy and peace for all
In the commonwealth that is to be.
They mould keep us cowed and cringing meekly at their feet.
They would stand between each worker and his bread.
Shall we give our lives up to them for the bitter crust we eat
shall we only hope for heaven when we're dead.
Cho.
When our caus3 is all triumphant and we claim our mother earth
And the nightmare of the present fades away
We will live with love and laughter.
We who now are little worth
And we'll not get the price we had to pay.
Our Country 'Tis of Thee
The land that once was free
Of Thee we sing
Land where our fathers died
And now lay side by side
They had such hope and pride
For freedom's swing.
From Europe's countries old
Came some in steerage hold
For Freedom's sake
They hoped to find surcease
And live in love and peace
And freedom take
They spread oe'r planes far flung
With toil and heartaohe wring
A home was brought
With suffering and with toil.
They finally tilled the soil
A few of them found some oil
A good fight fought.
Then came some who sought
To min this wealth for naught
Our fathers earned
-They'd lie they'd steal and cheat
They grabbed our corn and wheat
They changed our laws to beat
Our rights they spurned
Their country 'tis of Thee
Ahere once was liberty
We still do love
They awn they rocks and rills
Thy mines and timbered hills
Our hearts with sorrow filled
Like him above.
Now we have no more homes
And like the mild beast roans
From earth to sky
They own this loved land
A tiny rob-ber band
Shall we not make our stand
To live or die.
--by I. W. Larsen
Why Oh Why
Why, oh Vihy should my brother die
Why should my mother sit and cry
And father, old with worry, sigh
Can you, kind sir, please tell me -why?
We were so happy, every day
As around our door and hearth did play
Were oarefree, jolly and always gay
And now this sorrow has come our way
Can you, kind sir, please tell me why?
We were so happy, every day
As around our door and hearth did play
Were carefree, jolly and always gay
And now this sorrow has come our w ay
Can you, kind sir, please tell me why?
We have no enemies at all
Were always ready at friendships call
With helping hands when ills befall
But how our joys in life did fall
Can you, kind sir, please tell me why?
They took my brother away from me.
He had to go, he was not free
To fight for them far over the sea
Th1 s terribel thing, I cannot see
Can you, kind sir, please tell me why?
My father said, it's because of gold
In other lands that rich men hold
And so for their wealth our sons are sold
And slaughtered for that bloody gold
Can you, kind sir, please tell me why?
Do our lives and joys to them mean naught?
Is life so cheap and eaasy bought
Where's the right and justice our forbearers sought
And the life and liberty for which they fought
Can you, kind sir, please tell me?
Did God send then our brothers there
To slay some other's brother fair
And fill our mothers with despair
Oh, no oh, no, I breathe- in prayer
Can you, kind sir, please tell me why?
Oh, no, dear child, God does no wrong
But the rich by tricks control the throng
And rule the fate of all along
The way. They just seem strong
And that, dear child, is why.
Their lust for gold is more to them
Than liberty or lives of men
we are but dirt beneath their feet
For gold they lie, they steal, and cheat
Even such as you, my child.
My child, when people learn their might
And stand together for their right
And brotherhood, with true foresight
Will answer you, my child.
Let all then hasten for that day,
Refuse to enter any fray
In foreigh lands for gold to slay
Another's brother in the way
Like yours, my ohild, like yours.
We have the might. We have the right
Alone for homes and kin to fight
We must be strong, protect the weak
For life and love our homes to seek
And bring back joy, my child.
We have a duty to perform
We must arise before the storm
Destroys and leaves us all forlorn
And bloody by its madness torn
To guard you children all
Make haste, away, away
Stop madmen who just live to slay
And make a better world always
From out the ashes of today
For such as you, my child.