Wasn't That A Time
Wasn't That A Time
Hays/Seeger/Gilbert/Brooks [Last verse added by Virginia Coigney]
Learn something new every day... this PP&M song Wasn't That A Time that I have loved for years was originally written and performed by the Weavers. PP&M's version was altered to fit the anti-war movement that was budding in 1965 during the Vietnam war. The Weavers' original version was a song that was in question in the hearings during the McCarthy commie witch hunt years in the 1950's.
The Weavers were a folk group from my parents' generation, formed in 1948 by Pete Seeger, Lee Hays, Fred Hellerman and Ronnie Gilbert. Hays and Seeger were accused of being Communists and were brought to testify to the House Committee on Un-American Activities in 1955.
The Weavers' Wasn't That A Time song (with different and many more verses than the PP&M version) was an integral part of the accusations against them. The group was black-listed as a result, as were many other performers during the McCarthy years. The Weavers recording of the song is on the right.
I have always loved PP&M's version of Wasn't That A Time, but I never knew this story. I also didn't realize the extent to which their music had inspired many folk groups of our generation, including my idols, Peter Paul & Mary.
A well-done and interesting sort of play on the trial is on YouTube. I have no idea where and when it was done, but the scene takes place in the House Committee on Un-American Activities hearing and incorporates parts of the Wasn't That A Time song. Here is the video:
Pete Seeger was featured as part of a documentary done in 1961 by Michael & Philip Burton about the House Committee on Un-American Activities witch hunt. The film demonstrates what a devastating effect the "Red Scare" had on our country during the McCarty years of the 1950's. Below is a clip from that film.
PBS did a documentary about the Weavers in 1980. The group had a reunion of sorts after about 30 years and appeared at Carnegie Hall in NYC. It was to be their last concert. Lee Hays died in 1981. A German-subtitled copy of the PBS piece is on YouTube. Below is that video.
Wasn't That A Time
Lee Hays, Pete Seeger, Ronnie Gilbert, ? Brooks and an additional verse by Virginia Coigney
Our fathers bled at Valley Forge. The snow was red with blood, Their faith was warm at Valley Forge, Their faith was brotherhood.
Chorus: Wasn't that a time, wasn't that a time, A time to try the soul of man, Wasn't that a terrible time?
Brave men who died at Gettysburg Now lie in soldier's graves, But there they stemmed the slavery tide, And there the faith was saved.
[Chorus]
The fascists came with chains and war To prison us in hate. And many a good man fought and died To save the stricken faith.
[Chorus]
And now again the madmen come, And should our vic'try fail? There is no vic'try in a land Where free men go to jail.
Isn't this a time! Isn't this a time! A time to try the soul of man, Isn't this a terrible time?
Our faith cries out we have no fear We dare to reach our hand To other neighbors far and near To friends in every land.
Isn't this a time! Isn't this a time! A time to free the soul of man! Isn't this a wonderful time!
[Two additional verses written by Lee Hays and sung at the 1980 Weavers reunion]
Informers took their Judas pay To tell their sorry tale And gangs in Congress had their way And free souls went to jail.
How many times we've gone to kill In freedom's holy name. And children died to save the pride Of rulers without shame.
[A different anti-war verse was added by Virginia Coigney to the version that PP&M did]
The wars are long, the peace is frail The madmen come again There is no freedom in a land Where fear and hate prevail.
Isn't this a time! Isn't this a time! A time to try the soul of man, Isn't this a terrible time?
Last, but certainly not least - the recording of the Weavers performing the song in their 1980 reunion concert at Carnegie Hall (the one from the documentary above). The two new verses that Lee Hays wrote were used.
