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The Great Historical Bum

from Planet Solitaire by Walter Strauss

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about

A lesser known Woody Guthrie song, which he ironically dubbed "Just the Facts Ma'am". Here's the great observer who's been present for anything and everything of any import since the top of time. Kind of a populist children's book version of history. These are but a few of about a million verses...

lyrics

I’m just a lonesome traveler, The Great Historical Bum
Highly educated from history I come
I built the Rock of Ages, it was in the Year of One
And that’s about the biggest thing that man has ever done

I was in the garden of Eden, it was in the year of two
Joined the apple-pickers union, I always paid my dues
I’m the one who signed the contract to raise the rising sun
And that’s about the biggest thing that man has ever done

I was straw boss on the pyramids, the Tower of Babel too
I opened up the ocean let the migrant children through
I fought a million battles and I never lost a one
And that’s about the biggest thing that man has ever done

I was in the revolution when we set this country free
It was me and a couple of Indians that dumped the Boston tea
I won the battle of Valley Forge and the battle of Bully Run
And that’s about the biggest thing that man has ever done

I’m just a lonesome traveler, The Great Historical Bum
Highly educated from history I come
I built the Rock of Ages, it was in the Year of One
And that’s about the biggest thing that man has ever done

credits

from Planet Solitaire, released May 22, 2014
WS : guitar and vocals

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Walter Strauss Occidental, California

This Californian guitar maestro’s songs are full of the groove and fire of an African dance party, the dynamics & textures of a string orchestra, and the back-porch soul of American roots music.

Walter performs globally, solo and in crosscultural collaborations, at venues as diverse as the Celtic Connections festival in Scotland, Freight & Salvage in Berkeley, CA, and Le Diplomat in Bamako, Mali. ... more

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