118. Little Boxes (Malvina Reynolds)

[twinkie1cat]

Thank you. I had not heard this in years. This song reminds me of the teapartiers, religious fundamentalists, and the GOP trying to make America "all just the same".

[raymondcrooke]

It's a great song all right. Thanks for your comment.

[twinkie1cat]

Everytime I see a cookie cutter subdivision plopped down in a field that a week before was full of cows, I think of it. In Louisiana they clearcut the fields, lay down slabs, add a house and put little stick trees in the yard. Then they wonder why it only takes a year or two for the house to grow mold and for the sudiv. to suddenly be located in a flood plain!

[travisreid7]

@twinkie1cat  - yeah socialists don't want everyone to be the same. Oh wait that's right they do, we'd all just be poor, instead of having money. You fucking tree hugging leftist cuntrag.

[multimix4]

Thanks for posting your rendition. I am realizing we all have our takes on it. I have posted my video response just fo the fun of it. I do believe we both are trying to do the original verisions, whether Malvina Reynold's or Pete Seeger's?

I am not very familiar with the Weeds version and I must admit that one does not mean much to me either.

[raymondcrooke]

Thanks, but I can't see your video response! It's a great song.

[stewballmax3]

Greetings

Gentleman Raymond...

This particular song has the uncanny distinction of being one of those rare treasures that seems more relevant as the years pass. The very fact that one can enjoy it at differing levels is perhaps the reason for its longevity. Of course, fine folk song troubadours such as yourself keep this bona fide jewel alive for future generations. If this was indeed your intended purpose,then you have surely succeeded in your endeavor!

Pax,

Max

[raymondcrooke]

Thanks, Max. I like to think I'm helping to pass these songs on to a new generation. Seeing over thirty thousand views for this song is certainly encouraging.

[balak1]

I would have appreciated a bit of facial expression (f.ex smiling or frowning) but the audio part is really nice and bit different from Seeger's version. greetings from Europe!

[dialinpuree]

Thanks for your advice. Greetings from Australia.

[roshandestone]

very nice! I like it alot

[raymondcrooke]

Thanks. Malvina Reynolds wrote some great songs.

[AsWater]

This is a GREAT cover. Thanks Ray!

[raymondcrooke]

You're welcome. Glad you like it.

[Iheartgazelles]

Great cover!

[skatotik]

to jo :-S moc si to davas :-D

[zacziggie]

I like the way you play this... i play it A D A E7. how do you play it?

[raymondcrooke]

My standard answer to this kind of question is: The lyrics and chords of (almost) all my songs can be found on my website: raymondcrookeDOTcom

Click on "My Folk Songs", then "Singer-Songwriters", then "Malvina Reynolds" and you will find it there.

[parsajavid]

GOD will make the GREAT PERSIA again

[raymondcrooke]

Maybe so, but I can't see the relevance to this song.

[parsajavid]

hi buddy!

i know but , cause this is very important we right it every where dude!

[tampalonghair]

Hey Dude!!!! Really GOOD JOB!!!! GREAT VIDEO!!!!! I've watched this like 3-4 times!!! You've done a GREAT JOB!!!

[raymondcrooke]

Thank you for your enthusiastic response!

[tampalonghair]

Very Cool~~~~ Good video!!!!

[MykeFoo]

loving this take on a classic!! well done, sir!!

[raymondcrooke]

Thanks. Malvina Reynolds wrote a lot of great songs, none of them as well known as this one.

[stewballmax2]

Hello

Raymond...

Your assertion is all too true. Another particular favorite of mine is Malvina's "Andorra".  Fancy that,a nation sans a defence budget!

Ironically,I had learned both of these songs at...summer camp (a rather progressive one,of course)...LOL!

Peace,

Stewball

[stewballmax2]

That had ought to read as DEFENSE,not defence.:)

[raymondcrooke]

That's one I've been wanting to do, but I've forgotten how the tune goes. Some day I'll find it again. Great little song.

[martinou123]

well done

[raymondcrooke]

Thanks.

[GBZ10TROY]

Rock and Roll. I love this song. You do it justice. Nice arrangement and presentation. PEACE.

Happy 2009

[raymondcrooke]

Thank you. Best wishes for the New Year.

[SirCoughsalot]

I somehow missed this one. I think your version is just as good (if not better) than Pete Seeger's.

[raymondcrooke]

But he's the one who made it famous!

[SirCoughsalot]

Yes, but I just like your version better.

[barttheanorak]

Only heard this once before, sung in a horrible squeaky voice (sorry mum, spare me the thunderbolt) nice to hear it being given some balls. Not quite sure what ticky tacky is though. Are you going to do her song called Love Is Something If You Give It Away? That one I learnt in church!

[raymondcrooke]

Are you sure it wasn't Malvina Reynolds you heard? Her song-writing was better than her singing - though songwriters definitely have the right to sing their own songs.

[nickytanner]

yes I agree....I like to hear th writer sing their own song. Malvina's voice has a definite squeak to it but I tink it's sweet and adds to the charm. I do like Raymond's slightly angrier version - kind of brings out the 'edge' of the lyrics

[nickytanner]

I like you and your guitar

[raymondcrooke]

Thanks, but the guitar was not very likeable. Had to be put in its box!

[nickytanner]

oh really? - was it not behaving itself?

[tinypeanuts]

Really nice. Are you a Brit?

[oldstewball]

Hello

Raymond...

As part of The Clearwater Hudson River Revitalization Folk Festival taking place this weekend (21-22 June) Grandpa Pete Seeger (the organizer and Founder of Clearwater) traditionally sings Malvina's classic ditty near the conclusion of the festival. I will be thinking about your faithful rendition when I listen to and sing along with Pete this weekend.:)

Peace,

Stewball

[raymondcrooke]

Hello

Stewball...

Thank you for thinking of my rendition. I wish I could be there to sing along with you.

[torpedofish]

Excellent, and the full version too! :D

[cjwaywell]

very nice mate

[Unzigier]

love this song... the best song which is painting a city in weeds ^^. Btw, nice voice :)

[Fienchen1986]

Well done!!!!!!!!!!! es ist cool mein lieblingssong mal von nem soooo coolen typen zu hören!!! so on ;)

[solactor]

In spanish it is covered by "Victor Jara"... the lyrics are socially covered and much more profound.

[clod8]

Well la dee da. You copy an American song but of course, in Spanish it is "much more profound".

[MAZ1N00]

let me know when theres a profound spanish song not covered but original.

[headachehaver]

this guy is my favorite. every time I search for something (excepting porn of course) he's done it.

[homodensus]

And if he's not an aussie then I'm a bunyip

[headachehaver]

whay is a bunyip? I thought I would know because I am an American and therefore all-knowing!

[Bollstar]

a bunyip is a swamp monster of aboriginal mythology

[clod8]

What you do is look at his profile.

It says he is in Hong Kong but is originally from Melbourne.

You are not a bunyip.

[jordbardsmak]

tellme you got your version on the weeds show :D

[raymondcrooke]

No. I learnt it in the 1960s when Pete Seeger covered it - a long time before Weeds.

[jordbardsmak]

i mean, they should use you in the intro :)

[BLEACH9775X]

PERRRRp

[ssjcell]

your old

[raymondcrooke]

My old what? Your sentence is incomplete!

[abekatmedsilkehat]

Zac Efron is hot!!!

[raymondcrooke]

Who?

[abekatmedsilkehat]

Zac Efron from High School Musical and Hairspray and Derby Stallion (but I haven't seen it)

[Kagomesedai]

Very well done.

[raymondcrooke]

Thank you.

[hatiskfan]

Really cool mate!

Could you teach me the chords?

[raymondcrooke]

The lyrics and chords of (almost) all my songs are on the website: raymondfolkDOTwetpaintDOTcom

[darkangelgva]

awsome sir!!!

[RawMeat3001]

Gusto!

[MightyTANK1]

what does this song mean?

[raymondcrooke]

Basically it's a comment about the lack of individualism in today's society. Everybody conforms to what is expected of them.

[darkangelgva]

this song means that we are all stupids humans livin in little boxes on the hillside,goin on university all get put in boxes, all the same generation after generation...if you want understand more, look about Malvina Reynolds discography.

[meigalho]

where are the boxes???

[raymondcrooke]

On the hillside.

[damnstyle]

Good singing!

[imadewaffles1234]

i love this song. my frien showed it to me

[Pizzzzzzzzzzza]

Weeds is hillarious. I was watching episodes on showlinks(.)tv

[tordenkylling100]

you're nice !

[whummadug]

i adore you and barbry allen

[zacman15]

TUNE YOUR GUITAR

[raymondcrooke]

That guitar was untunable! I gave up on it and bought a new one.

[kismadar]

awesome

[Naunaud128]

Great performance dude !

Encore ! Encore ! :)

[PeterPW]

Great song! Perfect execution! I suggest investing in a more elegant lamp...

[rps90]

yes and with all her truly eaningful songss for what she believed in

[rps90]

or should i say was

[raymondcrooke]

She is still with us in the wonderful songs she has given us.

[rps90]

hey raymond i would like to thank u for rememberin malvina because she is a family member of mine my grea great aunt , so thanks for the tribute

[kennewicksheri]

I started a few months ago collecting pete seeger on YouTube.. have many songs, and ... this is one that I love ...Your voice perfect for folk songs!

*sheri*

[jlinto]

you should be famous...you really have talent

[XxWaveWarlockxX]

raymond changes his shirt for each video. I'm on to this.

[raymondcrooke]

You haven't quite worked it out. Try again!

[bobsmoid]

He puts a lot into it though!

[Ottawarocket]

Thanks for all the great songs I have never heard before. Love your stuff

Rocket

[raymondcrooke]

Thanks. The lesser known songs tend to get fewer views, but often they're the songs I really like.

[shawnmcnair1]

ive heard this one. nj.