Utah Phillips: Feb. 25, Nightcap

Monday, February 25, 2008

Feb. 25, Nightcap

Utah is currently sorting through a portion of some unidentifiable off white meat and boiled potatoes. His day went well, the only glitch in his days are the coughing fits that begin around 4:00 in the afternoon and last an hour or so. The fits are more annoying than any thing to worry about. We are still on schedule to home go tomorrow.

Upon dads returning home I would like some input on the future of this blog. I do keep in close contact with dad and I can update the blog daily or weekly, I am happy to do so. I will leave it up to you all, I look forward to your feedback and opinions.
Duncan

7 comments:

Anonymous said...: Hi Duncan! I've been a Utah Phillips fan for the last 35 years or so, since I was about 2 or 3 years old. I was raised on his music by my dad, and it will never sound like just music to me -- it sounds like part of who I am. I've really enjoyed reading this blog over the last week or so, so I'll hope you'll keep it going. The photos are great too. Thanks for keeping us up to date.; February 25, 2008 at 10:00 PM
newt said...: it's been great keeping tabs on utah, reading stories and seeing pictures, so keep it going if possible!; February 26, 2008 at 4:55 AM
Historelli said...: I'm pretty sure the Blogosphere is in desperate need of a continuing Utah Philips blog...

So i hope you keep posting; February 26, 2008 at 8:02 AM
Colin said...: Utah has been a major influence on my life and it has been a pleasure to meet and converse with him on a couple of occasions. It would be too much to say that without Utah I wouldn't be the person I am today. Best wishes for a speedy recovery.; February 26, 2008 at 11:00 AM
Anonymous said...: If you have the time to update the blog, Duncan, it is a wonderful site for us to check on Utah's condition. Don't sacrifice your sleep to keep us informed, however; Caregivers have to stay healthy.; February 26, 2008 at 3:08 PM
Virginia Browning said...: If you're willing to do this blog, I'm hanging on the words. It's an incredibly generous way to let those of us who love your dad feel connected. Next generation and all that too...

pictures...pods...

Much appreciation,
Virginia Browning; February 26, 2008 at 3:26 PM
Unknown said...: Hi Duncan,

Was just checking up on when I might be able to catch your dad live again while listening to "The Telling Takes me Home" and found the blog.

I really appreciate you keeping us updated, and if you have time would love to continue hearing from you. My soul wouldnt have a voice without men like your dad.; February 27, 2008 at 12:13 AM

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The Two Bums

This is a poem from George Milburn's book, The Hobo's Hornbook. You can also find it in a lot of old I. W. W. pamphlets and literature. It sums up a great deal of what I feel. It talks about the bum on the rod and the burn on the plush, which is just a simple way of saying that the kind of system we live in now demands that there be a poor people, demands that there be people out of work so that there will always be people willing to work for any wage.
Sure, a lot of railroad burns are parasites, but, like the poem says, they're just fleas who get an occasional bite, and you look at what those parasites at the top are chewing off. I know that there's a lot of talk these days about the welfare Cadillac; middle class people talking about those welfare gobblers down on the bottom who are afraid to do an honest day's work, and they're all driving big Cadillacs. And you hear over and over again, "Nobody ought to get something for nothing. " I've got to agree. You've got to work to eat.
I look at a factory. I see that everybody associated with that factory puts something in and they take something out. The workers put in their sweat and their skill, and they take out wages. The salesmen put in their skill and ability, and they take out commissions. The managers and foremen and people in the offices put in theirs, and take out salaries. But there's one group of people who take out more than they put in, and that more is called profit. I can't think of any other way to define it. That's a bunch of people who are getting something they didn't work for, and it's a whole lot.
If we're really concerned about people getting just what they earn, if we're really concerned about people not getting something that they didn't put in time and sweat for, let's start with the major offenders, and get rid of them. Then we'll gradually work our way down to the petty chiselers. It just makes sense.

The bum on the rod is hunted down
As the enemy of mankind;
The other is driven around to his club
And feted, wined and dined.

And they who curse the bum on the rods
As the essence of all that is bad
Will greet the other with a winning smile
And extend him the hand so glad.

The bum on the rods is a social flea
Who gets an occasional bite;
The bum on the plush is a social leech,
Blood-sucking day and night.

The bum on the rods is a load so light
That his weight we scarcely feel,
But it takes the labor of dozens of men
To furnish the other a meal.

As long as you sanction the bum on the plush,
The other will always be there,
But rid yourself of the bum on the plush
And the other will disappear.

Then make an intelligent, organized kick,
Get rid of the weights that crush;
Don't worry about the bum on the rods,
Get rid of the bum on the plush!

Internet Archive

I have started to develop an internet archive on my web page. It will be a collection of pictures, concert flyers and posters, concert audio and video, in short everything that I have collected during the last few years of traveling with dad. My hope is that it may one day become a central place for the world wide community to have access to an ever growing archive of Utah Phillips. I would like to encourage folks to add to the archive as well. You can either send things via e-mail ( friendsofutah@yahoo.com) or to my home address. I look forward to hearing from you.
Thank You
Duncan Phillips
1392 e. 5935 s.
SLC, UT. 84121