Nora Guthrie – HuffPost 9.6.13

Mike Ragogna: What’s your advice for new artists?

Nora Guthrie: Don’t be afraid of caring about things. Don’t let anyone talk you out of caring about things. Find out what you care about and write songs about it. That could fill a lifetime, and is the secret to artistic longevity.

MR: What do you think Woody’s advice might have been?

NG: Woody knew himself. He knew what he wanted to do, and learned how to do it as best he could. “This machine kills fascists” was the note on his guitar. In “The Ballad of Tom Joad,” he ends with the line “…wherever people are fighting for their rights, that’s where I’m gonna be.” So he knew what his work was gonna be. Luckily, not everyone is given this task! Arlo jokes that in a world where so much is going wrong, it’s even easier for someone to do something about it, because even the littlest thing might turn out to make a huge difference. Some tiny little action can be the cosmic tipping point. Who knows what it takes to turn things around? Maybe it’s just one little song, quickly scribbled down, like “We Shall Overcome,” or “This Land,” written in a little flop house, that will turn out to make a huge difference. Or, on the other hand, maybe it’s a complete lifestyle change. Who knows? Woody would have simply pressed musicians with the idea to discover for themselves what their real job is, and not be afraid to take it on. On the other hand, sometimes your calling card comes to you, and you’re faced with having to accept it or reject it. In either case, fear not! There’s a point to your life, to your music. Hopefully, you figure it out while you’re still alive.