Testimony of Pete Seeger before the House Un-American Activities Committee

And he just passed away last night.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/obituaries/pete-seeger-l...

It's an interesting exchange. Scherer kept asking him where he had sung his songs; Pete kept insisting that he instead ask about what he had sung — that he would sing for anybody, so it wasn't relevant, and that his songs were always in good faith.

> MR. SCHERER: Witness, you have indicated that you are perfectly willing to tell us about all of these innumerable functions at which you entertained, but why do you refuse to tell us about the functions that Mr. Tavenner inquires about?

> MR. SEEGER: No, sir, I said that I should be glad to tell you about all of the songs that I have sung, because I feel that the songs are the clearest explanation of what I do believe in, as a musician, and as an American.

Scherer wasn't interested at all in what the songs were about.

This was my take away line, on a base level:

> MR. SEEGER: I am sorry you are not interested in the song. It is a good song.

Thanks for posting. Inspiring breakfast read. Relevant 60 years later.

'Are you now, or have you ever, been associated with any terrorist organizations?'

I bet this is a fascinating read, but I can't make sense of it because my eyes are confounded by all the banjoes in the background. Dammit, Pete -- you're a mighty fine protest singer, but a rotten web designer!

>MR. SEEGER: I continued singing, and I expect I always will.

May you always. By far the most meaningful line of the exchange.