On Alice's Restaurant and America
By MARK OSTOW | November 21, 2006
Are you sick of hearing "Alice's Restaurant" take over the airwavesevery Thanksgiving (or is it fun)?
We don't actually listen for it on the radio as we've been doing it all year on the road. If they're going to play only one song of mine on the radio, and play it on only one day each year, it might as well be the longest one I wrote. If you were appointed Secretary of Defense what would your firstact be?
I'd make damn sure that every soldier knew that when they got home they'd be honored with more than catchy phrases. I'd throw out half the VA administration and replace them with people who care more about people than the financial bottom line. And then I'd start thinking about other things.
Who has sung the best rendition of "This Land Is Your Land"? Mickey Mousewas a great answer.
The one I like best is when I got to sing it with my dad, adding some verses he'd written to the song he recorded. It's on the soundtrack recording to the film Hard Travelin'.
If your child was drafted what would you advise him/her?
"Shoot low, they might be crawlin,' " as my old friend, Monte Hale used to say.
What is it that you appreciate most about being an American?
I think our form of government is the most natural in the world. It's like a great river. There are no rivers that run straight. They meander from left to right and keep going down hill. As long as they keep going back and forth we'll be okay. And I appreciate the opportunity to see it working during my lifetime.
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