Like a tree, standing by the water

Last Saturday night, Sandra and I saw Pete Seeger in concert. He performed in Brattleboro in a benefit for Strolling of the Heifers, an organization that provides micro-loans and other support for Vermont farmers. Pete appeared with his grandson, Tao Rodríguez-Seeger, and Guy Davis.

Pete's leaning on 90 and doesn't tour much. The (mostly gray-haired) crowd was there not just to hear him perform, but, primarily, to thank him. We thanked him for nearly 80 years of music that strengthened us when we were weary, comforted us when we were lonely, and inspired us when our moral vision was dim.
Because he makes it sound so natural, we forget that he's a formidable musician. His voice may have softened, but his banjo-picking is clear and clean. Tao and Guy are also world-class performers. Together they took us on a grand tour of music's expanses of space and time. Even those of use with 3/4-octave sang along. As Pete has often said, his mission is not to put songs in people's ears, but on people's lips.
Tears welled up from the first song, Midnight Special. Our eyes stayed wet through the closing number, This Land Is Your Land, because it really is our national anthem and because it was time for one of our greatest servants to go home. There's plenty of work to be done, but Pete has earned his rest.