I've listened to this song for like 30 years now. My father played it every Thanksgiving growing up. Now it's just a tradition for me even if only I listen to it
Alice's Restaurant is an anti Vietnam War protest song. There was a movie made of the song/story. Arlo is the son of world famous folk singer Woody Guthrie.
Living in the Massachusetts/Rhode Island/New Hampshire area, I've heard him sing this live many times & it's always excellent. Yes, anti war & about the draft. There can be no underestimating the impact the draft had on American society. The stress of the draft & negative emotions surrounding it was the reason the Bush 2 admin employed reservists (often far older than former draft age ) in Iraq & Afghanistan. Like any thing, the Vietnam war draft was rife with inequalities. Often the wealthy could buy their way out or into the reserves.
I think the movie is an underrated masterpiece...Arthur Penn was just off directing Bonnie and Clyde and a couple years away from Little Big Man, two truly great films. We didn't realize it at the time, but Penn was prescient and showed us in the movie how the hippies and their movement were coming to an end, even as they were gathering for Woodstock.
& of course us older folks know, Woody Guthrie was the MOST influential singer-songwriter on Bob Dylan as a young aspiring folk singer-songwriter - QUITE the legacy to be hung on to - GO Arlo! - & in response to your later Q about seeing Arlo live - Yea, I did, and he was EXCELLENT & funny (in that ironic way) live
I was a junior in high school in 1969 when a school mate performed this trilogy in class. Arlo was expressing the tragedy of young men getting drafted during the Vietnam war in America, the home of the free and land of the brave. And when he performs, he tells a story, just like his famous daddy.
Harri, I am 72 and became of draft age in 1968. None of my peers wanted to go fight in Vietnam even though we felt a lot of patriotism. From 64 to 68 we learned so many guys had died and those that came back told stories of storming one hill, losing good men, to then pull back and then repeating the same stupid atrocity a week, or a month later. It was a war that our politician hamstrung the military and messed up terribly. This song became so famous because many of us were torn - wanting to be patriotic and serve our country, but not wanting to participate in a terribly run war - potentially dying for what!?! “Alice’s Restaurant” captured that angst we felt so well…funny, poignant, silly, rebellious. There was a movement brewing that rejected the war. We all began singing “You can get everything you want, at Alice’s Restaurant!”. Side note: guys were not joining in sufficient numbers, so they instituted a military draft. They put 365 ping pong balls in a big hopper, numbered 1 thru 365, and then began drawing those ping pong balls. Your birthday was assigned a chronological number. In 1968, the first year, they drafted everyone with birthdays shown on the first 150 or 160 balls. My birthday was selected Number 49 and it changed the rest of my life. The only choice was to go to Canada (or another country) or become a CO (Contentious Objector), which tainted your resume for years. Can you see why this song gained such popularity?
This is a protest song against the draft for the Vietnam War. He's telling young people to resist the draft, using his true-life experience. People used all kinds of tricks to avoid the draft - making themselves feverish at the physical, staying up and drunk for days, pretending to be insane, joining the clergy or Peace Corps, etc. There were a lot of anti-Vietnam War songs in the day.
If your dad was rich enough you could pay a doctor to claim you had some disqualifying condition like bone spurs. Ironically, Arlo was at high risk of developing Huntington's and should have been medically ineligible for service but being the son of a depression era working class hero didn't have the same pull as the heir to something useful like NY slums.
A movement indeed- millions of old hippies play it every Thanksgiving. And it's 75% a true story! I saw him in concert a few years ago; nowadays he looks like Santa Clause.
As a testament to the reach of this song, the Associated Press published the obituary of Officer Obie when he passed away in 1994, nearly 30 years after he inspired the song by arresting Arlo for littering. Officer Obie was also used as a model for several Norman Rockwell paintings and Saturday Evening Post covers previously.
Officer Obie played himself in the movie Arlo made based on this song. He insisted that if anyone was to make a fool of him on film, he'd do it himself.
Arlo is the son of Woody (Woodrow Wilson) Guthrie, who was an American singer-songwriter, one of the most significant figures in American folk music. His work focused on themes of American socialism and anti-fascism. Great Thanksgiving tune! Thanks, Harri! ✌🏻💀
It's odd though, in the 50's, 60s in school we were taught "This Land Is Your Land" as a patriotic song. Didn't discover until years later that Woody wrote it as a protest song supporting workers rights. Love the Guthries.
Socialism IS Fascism. One of the great lies of Socialists and their precursor Communists, is that they themselves are not the predominant Fascists of the world historically and to the present day.
And wasn't Woody the first to have the legend: THIS MACHINE KILLS FASCISM inscribed on his guitar? A number of musician/ guitarists have used this or variations of it on their instruments ever since. It's such a great concept.
From a Boomer: thanks so much, Harri, for reacting to this. This is the great anti-draft/anti-war song from the Vietnam War era. The inequities of the era are savagely illustrated with humor and wit. And we all responded. FFS, they televised a lottery for drafting soldiers in that time. I sat in the lobby of my dorm with my male friends and watched as they received word of their fate. That's how insane it was. And many of us who lived through that era still play this every Thanksgiving. Arlo is also the son of one of the greatest activists/folksingers this country ever produced. This apple did not fall far from the tree.
That draft lottery happened in the summer of 69, my younger brother and I watched it. My number came up three, but I was on a two week leave from flight simulator school so we had a good laugh about that. My brothers number was in the three hundreds and they were only going to draft numbers, I think it was , up to one hundred eighty. Have listened to Alice's Restaurant every Thanksgiving since it came out in the summer of love.
When Arlo wrote this song, America was still drafting young men into the army. And specifically at this time they were being drafted to fight in the Vietnam war, a war which many Americans opposed. His movement was to find a way to keep yourself from being drafted. He wasn't drafted because of his arrest record. His idea was for people to do something off the wall that would make the army reject them too, such as walking into the draft office, singing a bar of Alice's Restaurant, and walking out. And if a great number of young men protested in this way, then they couldn't fill the army with the numbers they needed and couldn't fight a war that a lot of people didn't think we should be fighting in the first place. Funny song but about a deadly serious topic.
It wasn't anything to do with his arrest record. There's Huntington's Corhea in his family; Since it's a nerve disorder that could affect you at any time, you get out of the draft for it.
This recording was in 1967 and the war hadn't even hit its peak yet of the yearly number of draftees. Young men were shitting their pants, not wanting to be gobbled up by the military or the Viet Cong.
For those of us who are of a certain age ;) listening to Arlo Guthrie's Alice's Restaurant is very much a part of the Thanksgiving holiday every year. It is iconic.
Wonderful, Harri! It's a classic! Yep, it's an anti-government, anti-draft, anti-war protest song from the Vietnam War era. 🙂 The college radio stations used to all play it every Thanksgiving Day. Tradition!
Same here in Lincoln NE. EVERY THANKSGIVING. A funny story: When my daughter was about 10 or 12 yrs old, she asked me "Is this an OLD RAP SONG?" 😆😂🤣🤣 Cracked me up!!! Still does! 💯 🤎
Alice's Restaurant is actually a true story. Arlo and his friend were trying to avoid the Draft and it was Arlo's Draft letter that Officer Obe found in the garbage pile. The church where Alice lived is actually a museum now. Happy Holidays!
Harry, this was written during the Vietnam War. It is/was a protest song against the war. Here in Massachusetts, it's played on the radio 3 times on Thanksgiving Day. It's a Tradition! 😊
A Thanksgiving tradition. I was fortunate to see Arlo with Pete Seger back in the ‘80’s, and it was a beautiful night under the stars listening to two of the best folk artists. And yes, he did this song live exactly as you hear it. They did make it into a movie.✌️❤️🎶
@@alpetrocelli4465 I saw him on a revolving stage in Philly with Pete Seger. It might've been Theater Of The Living Arts. He had a giant harpoon/spear thing pointing low and said "today clamming is like this" and then he pointed it upward and said "but a long time ago clamming was like this". Lol. I forget what song it was related to. If any.
They did do a movie called Alice's Restaurant with Arlo playing the main character, it was released in 1969. This was something that kinda happened to him with of course some poetic license.
My friends and I saw him live back in the 70s in a small venue in New York , and yes , he did Alice’s Restaurant along with many other original Songs, great time . He’s the son of iconic songwriter Woody Guthrie .
I have an album (LP) titled "ARLO" & and on the cover it says it was recorded live at the Bitter End Cafe in New York. it includes 'Alice’s Restaurant', 'The Motorcycle Song (Significance of the Pickle)' and 'The Pause of Mr.Claus', the latter having a shot at the FBI. Hi, from Down Under.
Hey, Hari ! There were millions of us fans who could recite this word-for-word by in 1967. (Especially those of us who worried about being drafted and sent to Vietnam.) This is a powerful and beautiful antiwar performance. True patriotism, in my book.👃
I first heard this in 1967. I bought the album and memorized it. For years, I would sing it at parties (espesially after a few beers)' I can probably still get through most of it Yes, it was performed live, not reading from a script. I did see him live about 10 years ago but he had stopped doing this about 10 years before.
I was working on Thanksgiving, at a little restaurant in Aspen, in 1988, and I recited the entire song while washing dishes that shift. No guitar, no bass, just lyrics.
Sadly we don’t have story tellers anymore. This is pure genius. I cant find anyone 40 years later who can do this. I think we lost something important in life. The ability to convey your thoughts and feelings to others.
Great reaction, Harri. Arlo is truly one of a kind. When it was revealed that one of the major pieces of evidence against President Nixon in the Watergate Scandal was that there was an 18 minute section on one of the tapes that was blank, Arlo said "Hey, isn't Alice's Restaurant 18 minutes long?" Implying that this song had been recorded on one of the most historical pieces of American history!
heard em tell that story live before going into Alice which he hadnt performed live in years. happend to catch the tour he decided to finally dust it off.
Arlo is a storyteller. But he's also a musician. This isn't the only thing he's ever recorded or been famous for. Actually, he did a fantastic version of "City of New Orleans", which is about the final run of a well-known train in America. I've attended several concerts he's done, and he's amazing. But like I said, Arlo is first and foremost a storyteller, even if he doesn't record or perform all that many stories. I first heard "Alice's Restaurant" when I was 14 or 15 years old (I'm nearly 70 now); my English teacher played it for the class. The class ended before the record did, and many of the students left muttering how weird the record was. Me, I was obsessed with it, loved it. It being a Friday, I asked my teacher if I could borrow the record for the weekend and bring it back on Monday, and she was kind enough to loan it to me. And by Monday I had it all memorized. Now, actually, the story is a lot shorter than you might think. There are extremely wordy chucks that extend the narrative time. And repetition fills the time even further. But once you get used to using "27 8x10 color photos with circles and arrows and a paragraph on the back of each one explaining what each one was, to be used as evidence against us" in place of "photos", it gets easy to remember everything; you don't need a script. No, what is more amazing is how Arlo can accompany himself on the guitar throughout and adjust the playing to emphasize the action in the story while speaking to the audience and delivering the narrative in an almost personal way. I home in the near future you will do a reaction to Arlo performing "City of New Orleans"; it's a really great song written by Steve Goodman (RIP). This song was released in 1967; in 1969, it was made into a movie, starring Arlo Guthrie. But while it makes a great story, it did not translate well into a movie. I don't recommend looking it up or watching it. This song has little to do with the American legal system; it had to do with the Vietnam War. By the mid-1960s, young men were required to register with the federal government's Selective Service for military draft. Some went ahead and enlisted, many more tried to get into college for that college deferment that kept them out of being drafted, some joined the Peace Corps to serve in America of abroad in helping others, and some (known as 'draft-dodgers') left America to avoid military service. For many, they crossed over into Canada to accomplish this. There was a lot of panic among young people during that time. Those that were called in for examination were checked for physical health, psychological stability, and often provided medical tests and vaccinations. If you were rejected on medical or psychological grounds, you were marked 4F and didn't have to serve, and many young men tried to get a 4F status. One way to be found 4F was to convince the draft board that you were homosexual, which at the time was considered a condition that made you unfit for service. Another way to get a 4F was to have a bad enough criminal record. So, this song was satire; it was based on a true story that happened to Arlo, but he embellished it into a bit of comedy that went with the feelings of many young people of that time. They didn't want to go to war or be forced to do morally/ethically questionable things for a cause that made no sense to them. The Vietnam War was never an official war; it was called a 'police action'. Currently Putin is doing the same with his invasion of Ukraine. No, Arlo wasn't trying to pass a message or instigate anything about the legal system or the military as such; he was aligning with the anti-war sentiment and movement already in place in the time this song was written. No one then took this as serious; it was just a hilarious take on dealing with a government demand few young people wanted to be burden with or forced to do.
Good summation. One point about the movie, though, the scene with Arlo and Pete Segar visiting "Woodie" in the hospital was tender and heartbreaking. The senior Guthrie died only a couple years before the film was made, and Pete and Arlo played for him just like in the film.
@@BoydsNest1959 good point. If I remember correctly that touching scene and the Amazing grace song scene were both very real moments for Arlo from his life. When the higher ups wanted to create something to pad the runtime Arlo wanted to make sure were included.
For many years, Classic Rock stations in the US would play this in the early afternoons on Thanksgiving Day, when everyone was in the kitchen cooking, and none of the DJ's wanted to work, so they'd take an extended smoking break. It, alongside the WKRP in Cincinnati "Turkey Drop" episode are modern USA'n secular holiday traditions.
A 1969 film was based on this song. "If you wanna stop war and stuff you gotta sing LOUD! " What a line. But sadly, as Joni Mitchell sang in her song "California": They won't give peace a chance -- that was just a dream some of us had.
A great Thanksgiving song ! We listened every year on the radio going to our families for thanksgiving. They are gone now (RIP) but we still listen every morning while preparing the meal. Good one !!
Start reminding music reaction sites in usa that its a tradition from radio stations. (Actual reason is its a long song , by pre recording a bunch of holiday similar songs to tape with emergency backups most got to go home with family and one or two people could run the station for a while). I got Andy and Alex to play it 2022. Enough people start before Halloween and we could start a movement. And the best part, you can replay it all you want.
@@dianetaylor841 Yes, but no longer performing. I forget the reason why, but he said his guitar playing was no longer up to his standards and he didn't feel he could provide the sort of performance he felt his audience should get.
I'm so happy that you enjoyed the song, Harri. I was young, and very much against the war when this song was released. I love the song every bit as much now as I did then. I've had the privilege of seeing Arlo perform 5 times. Except for the 50th anniversary tour for Alice's Restaurant when hearing it was a sure thing, each concert I hoped, but was convinced that he would not perform the song. I knew the concerts would be great no matter what, but he did perform it, each time. He is a fantastic performer. He lives in Stockbridge and owns the church now. Officer Obie played himself in the movie (apparently in spite of significant misgivings). He and Arlo subsequently became friends. He passed a few years ago.
I couldn't believe it when this popped up in my feed. Thank you for the reaction, Harri - rare, and much appreciated! You would also like Guthrie's "Coming into Los Angeles" and, in a very different and beautiful vein, "City of New Orleans." Arlo is truly his father's son.
Anti-war, social commentary, and fun. It's a classic. I've been singing Alice's Restaurant since I was a teen and I am an old woman now. Thanks for reacting!
I try to listen to this song every Thanksgiving. It has been a personal tradition from the late 60's. Arlo had the gift of story telling. Another Arlo Guthrie great was "City of New Orleans".
Brilliant insight into American culture told through humour and superb guitar playing. Never heard it before but couldn't stop laughing at the irony of the chain of events. And what a story teller! Thank you for posting and your openness to try more offbeat ideas.
I used to play this for my kids when they were preteens. I'm 73 now and my kids are in their 40's and they all still listen to this iconic tune every Thanksgiving. It's a tradition I hope always continues. Love ya Brandi, Brandon, and Blake!
This was indeed a protest against the war in Vietnam. Young American men were forced to go fight in a war they didn't believe in. They were coming back home, if they came back home, wounded or addicted to drugs. It was a horrible situation that still effects America. Young guys were trying everything they could to beat the draft and be rejected for service. Some folks still play this every Thanksgiving. Glad you like it.
It should be noted the Arlo was the featured act at Woodstock. It's his picture that was used on the promotion posters. And yes I had the pleasure of seeing him live half a dozen times over the years, the last time being about 8 years ago where I got to shake his hand in thanks for all the years of inspiration, and yes he played Alice's Restaurant that evening. He is currently enjoying a well deserved retirement after 50 years of being on the road.
The holiday season is never complete for me until I hear this song. This year it was a special treat to share it with Harri and the other besties ❤️. Happy holidays to all 🎄🎁🍗🦃🎄. Love to all. I’m so glad you enjoyed this. 🎄🎁✌️
I saw Arlo with Pete Seeger, in western Massachusetts in 1977 or 78, and it was a wonderful experience. Yes, this became a movie. He was a clever, deep, performer and to see he and Seeger, who's social activism was legendary, was a special special day. I see many have stated about his dad, a god of American folk music; so glad you enjoyed and keep up the gracious work.
Hey Harri YOU are correct sir. There was a movie made of this song, Starring Arlo Guthrie his own self, along with Officer Obie, Alice, her husband Ray, played by James Broderick, and M. Emmett Walsh as the Army officer in charge of the Group "W" bench. The movie is a bit darker in tone than the song, and goes into alot more detail, about everything. I do have it in my DVD collection. I have seen Arlo in concert three times, he only played "Alice's Restaurant" at one of the shows, but he kept us entertained the whole time. He does tour with a full band, it is not just him, solo with a guitar, but that would be great. He's done those shows too, like his appearance at Woodstock in 1969.
He wasn't reading off a script; he actually had (and still has) the major beats memorized. It's a true story, embellished for comedic effect, but the gist of it really happened. Just remember, it took place in the mid 1960's, and Arlo and his friend were hippies. That should clear up any questions you may have.
Alice's Restaurant was a Vietnam War protest song that was partly based on true events. This song reminds me of better times when I would listen to it with my brother.
As many have commented here, I waited every year on Thanksgiving for it to be played on the FM radio-here in NYC it was WNEW and also on college radio stations. WFMU, Upsala College in NJ was one of them. I knew every word and I still know every word and still listen to it on Thanksgiving. I saw the movie when I was 15. It was released 2 years after the song. Same summer as Easy Rider. And the Woodstock concert. I love Arlo! In 1969 his album, Running Down the Road, was released. I still love every song. “Coming Into Los Angeles” was a hit. “Coming into Los Angeles Bringing in a couple of ki's Don't touch my bags if you please Mister customs man, yeah” Those were the good old -and bad old-days. Music was phenomenal. But there were protests against the war in Vietnam and sometimes these ended up violent. In May 1970 the National Guard shot at peacefully protesting students at Kent State University and killed 4, wounded 9. Harri if you have t yet, listen to Crosby Still Nash and Young’s “Ohio,” about that massacre.
Oh this brings back great times when family & friends got together & sang along to this story telling by Arlo Guthrie ! If you said - You can get anything you want… people automatically sang along to this happy, comedic recording . Thanks for this one, brings smiles & makes people sing a long and have fun 😻🇨🇦💥
I love Arlo, this was my first grown up album. I have seen him in concert many times but unfortunately I haven't seen him perform Alice's restaurant live.
I absolutely LOVE this song. I have listened to it every Thanksgiving since I was a child (40+ yrs). As a teenager I met Arlo and he was a very nice fellow.
In answer to your question, yes, he still plays this live, keeps the amazing riff going throughout the whole performance. He must play it in his sleep as well. Great reaction to a 'song' I've been listening to since the seventies. Keep it going, Harri
Yes I have seen him in Salt Lake City and he knows it by heart. It was one of my favorite songs I love turning people on to it every chance I got. I think I still have the album. That really put a smile on my face thank you for playing that I haven't heard it in a long time
I saw Arlo in the late 1980's where he worked the length of the song into a story of the 18 minute lapse in the Nixon Watergate tapes. It was friggin' genius.
Growing up, this was a family tradition. Listening to this and Adam Sandler Turkey song. Since my dad's passing this song just hits different. Can still see him looking back at me with a shit eating grin, singing at the top of his lungs. I'd give anything to hear him sing it one more time.
FIRST! I had to for this song. Thanks Harri! I hope this gets played in November again. 💜💜💜 Harri, I think this song is about the absurdities of fascist authority and war. But how great was it that his crime of being a litterbug was on the same level as the "father-rapers?" And the "kill" scene with the psychiatrist is one of the most memorable for me. He's trying to sound insane and not worthy of the military, but they LOVE him for that! The song is LONG, but worth every second IMO. It goes by so fast every year. He's a wonderful storyteller. WELL DONE! May your numbers rise every Thanksgiving week. 😊
He was talking about the draft during Vietnam. The "movement" was the message. Yes, it used to get lots of play at Thanksgiving. Not sure if it still does or not. I'm old enough my first copy of this was on 4 track tape. Not 8 track, not cassette, but 4 track tape cartridge.
Generally, when you hear an American artist singing about the draft it’s a Viet Nam era song. I’m a Viet Nam vet and this was a very popular song in country, we loved it!
Harri, it IS a movie!! The movie, also called “Alice’s Restaurant”, was released in 1969, two years after the song came out. It’s well worth seeing. The film got nominated for Best Director at the Academy Awards.
This was an anti war song. This song gets played yearly on Thanksgiving Day by many American radio stations. It has become a tradition to listen to this on Thanksgiving.
Yes, I was fortunate enough to see Arlo Guthrie live about 10 years ago. Yes he recites the songs with that iconic voice. Some of the old songs had totally new stories. The show was billed as "Arlo Guthrie Family." and featured at least a dozen children and grandchildren most of whom perform and record independently. Truly a family show, a with a pair of preschool girls hanging out and running around the stage. Good music and Good fun!
This song is played every Thanksgiving at my house . EVERY Thanksgiving ✌️❤️🎶I have seen this performed live many times , he AND the audience recite it word for word. And it was made into a movie starring the singer himself . Arlo is the son of Legendary folk singer Woody Guthrie
I’ve seen him live and there’s no script. He’s just a true folksinger, a storyteller. He’s as great as he sounds here. He was hilarious and had the crowd captivated the throughout the whole concert.
I was a storyteller for a number of years in the 90's, and I can tell you he is definitely doing this from memory. I'm sure you've noticed how much repetition there is in this song, for one thing. That's a classic tool of the storyteller, using chunks of words that repeat every time (the description of the photos, the shovel and rakes, "all kinds of mean nasty ugly horrible things"), as is the way he structured the story with a definite rhythm. Doing voices also helps, as it makes the characters distinct. The presence of the guitar helps, as well, and his use of it supports the recitation, as it carries the rhythm of the story, and he uses the guitar to hit the story beats - notice how he'll stop playing to punctuate a climactic moment and then resume slowly to telegraph his reaction. All of these things contribute to making the story easier to remember and recite. It really is an amazing piece of storytelling, and it's been a classic since the 60's. Really glad you decided to do this one, and that you enjoyed it so much. :)
I have listened to this song every Thanksgiving for the last 15 to 20 years. Its a tradition in out house that is only enjoyed by myself now.
I've listened to this song for like 30 years now. My father played it every Thanksgiving growing up. Now it's just a tradition for me even if only I listen to it
Alice's Restaurant is an anti Vietnam War protest song. There was a movie made of the song/story. Arlo is the son of world famous folk singer Woody Guthrie.
Living in the Massachusetts/Rhode Island/New Hampshire area, I've heard him sing this live many times & it's always excellent.
Yes, anti war & about the draft.
There can be no underestimating the impact the draft had on American society.
The stress of the draft & negative emotions surrounding it was the reason the Bush 2 admin employed reservists (often far older than former draft age ) in Iraq & Afghanistan.
Like any thing, the Vietnam war draft was rife with inequalities.
Often the wealthy could buy their way out or into the reserves.
@@jkgannon1049 The movie starred Arlo as himself and featured Officer "Obie" Obanheim. Unfortunately, the script fictionalized much of the story.
I think the movie is an underrated masterpiece...Arthur Penn was just off directing Bonnie and Clyde and a couple years away from Little Big Man, two truly great films. We didn't realize it at the time, but Penn was prescient and showed us in the movie how the hippies and their movement were coming to an end, even as they were gathering for Woodstock.
@@danadnauseam And much is true.
& of course us older folks know, Woody Guthrie was the MOST influential singer-songwriter on Bob Dylan as a young aspiring folk singer-songwriter - QUITE the legacy to be hung on to - GO Arlo! - & in response to your later Q about seeing Arlo live - Yea, I did, and he was EXCELLENT & funny (in that ironic way) live
I was a junior in high school in 1969 when a school mate performed this trilogy in class. Arlo was expressing the tragedy of young men getting drafted during the Vietnam war in America, the home of the free and land of the brave. And when he performs, he tells a story, just like his famous daddy.
Harri, I am 72 and became of draft age in 1968. None of my peers wanted to go fight in Vietnam even though we felt a lot of patriotism. From 64 to 68 we learned so many guys had died and those that came back told stories of storming one hill, losing good men, to then pull back and then repeating the same stupid atrocity a week, or a month later. It was a war that our politician hamstrung the military and messed up terribly. This song became so famous because many of us were torn - wanting to be patriotic and serve our country, but not wanting to participate in a terribly run war - potentially dying for what!?! “Alice’s Restaurant” captured that angst we felt so well…funny, poignant, silly, rebellious. There was a movement brewing that rejected the war. We all began singing “You can get everything you want, at Alice’s Restaurant!”. Side note: guys were not joining in sufficient numbers, so they instituted a military draft. They put 365 ping pong balls in a big hopper, numbered 1 thru 365, and then began drawing those ping pong balls. Your birthday was assigned a chronological number. In 1968, the first year, they drafted everyone with birthdays shown on the first 150 or 160 balls. My birthday was selected Number 49 and it changed the rest of my life. The only choice was to go to Canada (or another country) or become a CO (Contentious Objector), which tainted your resume for years. Can you see why this song gained such popularity?
I was so very lucky. My turn came in '73, my number was 54. Stopped drafting then, still had to register though.
Selective Service still today, if'n you want to drive a car.
@@jufulu7066
Same here.
Class of 73. I fully expected to take my senior trip to Vietnam but they stopped the draft just before.
Harri, you would be amazed at how many children of the 70's know this whole song by heart!
I'm one of them
And regularly throw out quotes to confuse the youngsters.
Mee too!
and 80s from my parent's record collection!
He actually starred in his movie called "Alices Restaurant".
This is a protest song against the draft for the Vietnam War. He's telling young people to resist the draft, using his true-life experience.
People used all kinds of tricks to avoid the draft - making themselves feverish at the physical, staying up and drunk for days, pretending to be insane, joining the clergy or Peace Corps, etc. There were a lot of anti-Vietnam War songs in the day.
You can put Ted Nugent in that category. a "real patriot"...lol
If your dad was rich enough you could pay a doctor to claim you had some disqualifying condition like bone spurs.
Ironically, Arlo was at high risk of developing Huntington's and should have been medically ineligible for service but being the son of a depression era working class hero didn't have the same pull as the heir to something useful like NY slums.
Arlo's attempted strategy of sounding like a bloodthirsty maniac backfired :)
@@thomastimlin1724 I just think it was natural for Ted to shit his pants all the time.
@@kiwihib he definitely does that now.
A movement indeed- millions of old hippies play it every Thanksgiving. And it's 75% a true story! I saw him in concert a few years ago; nowadays he looks like Santa Clause.
I had tickets to see him sometime around 2005 but for various reasons I was unable to attend.
Is 46 an old hippie?✌🤪Grew up around 69 Woodstock site. Great people,great times.
@@jimini1976 as a 62 year old hippie, I’d call you a middle age hippie, I remember those day , god bless and safe new year
Iam one.
@@bocephus1911 You bloody youngest's 68 here.
As a testament to the reach of this song, the Associated Press published the obituary of Officer Obie when he passed away in 1994, nearly 30 years after he inspired the song by arresting Arlo for littering. Officer Obie was also used as a model for several Norman Rockwell paintings and Saturday Evening Post covers previously.
And he and Arlo became best oof friends
Didn"t know this. Thank you.
Officer Obie played himself in the movie Arlo made based on this song. He insisted that if anyone was to make a fool of him on film, he'd do it himself.
In the UK, even the Daily Telegraph had Obie's obituary!!
Love this! Wish littering was still our worst special crime and worst offense ever.
Arlo is the son of Woody (Woodrow Wilson) Guthrie, who was an American singer-songwriter, one of the most significant figures in American folk music. His work focused on themes of American socialism and anti-fascism. Great Thanksgiving tune! Thanks, Harri! ✌🏻💀
It's odd though, in the 50's, 60s in school we were taught "This Land Is Your Land" as a patriotic song. Didn't discover until years later that Woody wrote it as a protest song supporting workers rights. Love the Guthries.
You are spot on my brother. Woody Guthrie was a Great American Hero to many of us older folks.
Socialism IS Fascism. One of the great lies of Socialists and their precursor Communists, is that they themselves are not the predominant Fascists of the world historically and to the present day.
@@garyarnett1220 One early version was called “God blessed America for me” and was quite cynical
And wasn't Woody the first to have the legend: THIS MACHINE KILLS FASCISM inscribed on his guitar? A number of musician/ guitarists have used this or variations of it on their instruments ever since. It's such a great concept.
From a Boomer: thanks so much, Harri, for reacting to this. This is the great anti-draft/anti-war song from the Vietnam War era. The inequities of the era are savagely illustrated with humor and wit. And we all responded. FFS, they televised a lottery for drafting soldiers in that time. I sat in the lobby of my dorm with my male friends and watched as they received word of their fate. That's how insane it was. And many of us who lived through that era still play this every Thanksgiving. Arlo is also the son of one of the greatest activists/folksingers this country ever produced. This apple did not fall far from the tree.
That draft lottery happened in the summer of 69, my younger brother and I watched it. My number came up three, but I was on a two week leave from flight simulator school so we had a good laugh about that. My brothers number was in the three hundreds and they were only going to draft numbers, I think it was , up to one hundred eighty. Have listened to Alice's Restaurant every Thanksgiving since it came out in the summer of love.
When Arlo wrote this song, America was still drafting young men into the army. And specifically at this time they were being drafted to fight in the Vietnam war, a war which many Americans opposed. His movement was to find a way to keep yourself from being drafted. He wasn't drafted because of his arrest record. His idea was for people to do something off the wall that would make the army reject them too, such as walking into the draft office, singing a bar of Alice's Restaurant, and walking out. And if a great number of young men protested in this way, then they couldn't fill the army with the numbers they needed and couldn't fight a war that a lot of people didn't think we should be fighting in the first place. Funny song but about a deadly serious topic.
It wasn't anything to do with his arrest record. There's Huntington's Corhea in his family; Since it's a nerve disorder that could affect you at any time, you get out of the draft for it.
This recording was in 1967 and the war hadn't even hit its peak yet of the yearly number of draftees. Young men were shitting their pants, not wanting to be gobbled up by the military or the Viet Cong.
For those of us who are of a certain age ;) listening to Arlo Guthrie's Alice's Restaurant is very much a part of the Thanksgiving holiday every year. It is iconic.
I saw him do this live on a TV special and he wasn't reading it .
And this was made into a movie starring Arlo himself.
Wonderful, Harri! It's a classic! Yep, it's an anti-government, anti-draft, anti-war protest song from the Vietnam War era. 🙂 The college radio stations used to all play it every Thanksgiving Day. Tradition!
They still do play it every Thanksgiving and other rock stations, too.
they still play it on the radio a couple times during Thanksgiving in southern Indiana
Same here in Lincoln NE. EVERY THANKSGIVING. A funny story:
When my daughter was about 10 or 12 yrs old, she asked me "Is this an OLD RAP SONG?" 😆😂🤣🤣 Cracked me up!!! Still does! 💯 🤎
Alice's Restaurant is actually a true story.
Arlo and his friend were trying to avoid the Draft and it was Arlo's Draft letter that Officer Obe found in the garbage pile. The church where Alice lived is actually a museum now. Happy Holidays!
If you liked this, you would really like Arlo Guthrie The Motorcycle Song (The significance of the pickle.)
That's pure gold!
I've seen him play it live, and yes, he recites the entire thing. Also, they made it into a movie.
Greatest protest song against the Vietnam Draft ........
Still played at 12 noon across the U.S. every Thanksgiving.✌️💗
Harry, this was written during the Vietnam War. It is/was a protest song against the war. Here in Massachusetts, it's played on the radio 3 times on Thanksgiving Day. It's a Tradition! 😊
In Mississippi too
A Thanksgiving tradition. I was fortunate to see Arlo with Pete Seger back in the ‘80’s, and it was a beautiful night under the stars listening to two of the best folk artists. And yes, he did this song live exactly as you hear it. They did make it into a movie.✌️❤️🎶
Did he do the "clamming" bit? Lol
@@vinceparke5740 Not as I recall, but he did the Motorcycle Song.👍
@@alpetrocelli4465 I saw him on a revolving stage in Philly with Pete Seger. It might've been Theater Of The Living Arts.
He had a giant harpoon/spear thing pointing low and said "today clamming is like this" and then he pointed it upward and said "but a long time ago clamming was like this". Lol. I forget what song it was related to. If any.
PS, I don't want a pickle. I just wanna ride on my motorsickle.
This is still played on the radio around Thanksgiving time.
This is an anti Vietnam war song, one of the best
Him playing the same 3 chords throughout the whole song was very impressive.
I've seen Arlo twice..he sings Alice's Restaurant, every time!~ funny every time!
Arlo is pure gold. He saw our nation through some pretty perilous times, specifically the Vietnam War.
Yes, there is a movie based on this. Staring Arlo Guthrie
They did do a movie called Alice's Restaurant with Arlo playing the main character, it was released in 1969. This was something that kinda happened to him with of course some poetic license.
I seen it. TIGHTY WHITIES LOL
My friends and I saw him live back in the 70s in a small venue in New York , and yes , he did Alice’s Restaurant along with many other original
Songs, great time . He’s the son of iconic songwriter Woody Guthrie .
I have an album (LP) titled "ARLO" & and on the cover it says it was recorded live at the Bitter End Cafe in New York. it includes 'Alice’s Restaurant', 'The Motorcycle Song (Significance of the Pickle)' and 'The Pause of Mr.Claus', the latter having a shot at the FBI. Hi, from Down Under.
You will not find a better storyteller than Arlo Guthrie. I've had the great privilege of seeing him live twice.
A guy in my college dorm loved this song. He'd walk into the common area of the dorm with his guitar and sing the whole darn thing from memory.
Hey, Hari ! There were millions of us fans who could recite this word-for-word by in 1967. (Especially those of us who worried about being drafted and sent to Vietnam.) This is a powerful and beautiful antiwar performance. True patriotism, in my book.👃
I first heard this in 1967. I bought the album and memorized it. For years, I would sing it at parties (espesially after a few beers)' I can probably still get through most of it
Yes, it was performed live, not reading from a script. I did see him live about 10 years ago but he had stopped doing this about 10 years before.
I was working on Thanksgiving, at a little restaurant in Aspen, in 1988, and I recited the entire song while washing dishes that shift. No guitar, no bass, just lyrics.
Yep, got the album here in the UK in 1970 and by 1972 I could recite it word for word. I can still recite most of it.
First time in years I heard this song without a major buzz! I'm 69😊
Sadly we don’t have story tellers anymore. This is pure genius. I cant find anyone 40 years later who can do this. I think we lost something important in life. The ability to convey your thoughts and feelings to others.
Story tellers are still around.
Leo Kottke is a great storyteller.
Great reaction, Harri. Arlo is truly one of a kind. When it was revealed that one of the major pieces of evidence against President Nixon in the Watergate Scandal was that there was an 18 minute section on one of the tapes that was blank, Arlo said "Hey, isn't Alice's Restaurant 18 minutes long?" Implying that this song had been recorded on one of the most historical pieces of American history!
heard em tell that story live before going into Alice which he hadnt performed live in years. happend to catch the tour he decided to finally dust it off.
It was a movie also. He is a folk hero just like his Dad Woody. Arlo still tours with his kids as his band.
Arlo is a storyteller. But he's also a musician. This isn't the only thing he's ever recorded or been famous for. Actually, he did a fantastic version of "City of New Orleans", which is about the final run of a well-known train in America. I've attended several concerts he's done, and he's amazing.
But like I said, Arlo is first and foremost a storyteller, even if he doesn't record or perform all that many stories. I first heard "Alice's Restaurant" when I was 14 or 15 years old (I'm nearly 70 now); my English teacher played it for the class. The class ended before the record did, and many of the students left muttering how weird the record was. Me, I was obsessed with it, loved it. It being a Friday, I asked my teacher if I could borrow the record for the weekend and bring it back on Monday, and she was kind enough to loan it to me. And by Monday I had it all memorized.
Now, actually, the story is a lot shorter than you might think. There are extremely wordy chucks that extend the narrative time. And repetition fills the time even further. But once you get used to using "27 8x10 color photos with circles and arrows and a paragraph on the back of each one explaining what each one was, to be used as evidence against us" in place of "photos", it gets easy to remember everything; you don't need a script.
No, what is more amazing is how Arlo can accompany himself on the guitar throughout and adjust the playing to emphasize the action in the story while speaking to the audience and delivering the narrative in an almost personal way.
I home in the near future you will do a reaction to Arlo performing "City of New Orleans"; it's a really great song written by Steve Goodman (RIP).
This song was released in 1967; in 1969, it was made into a movie, starring Arlo Guthrie. But while it makes a great story, it did not translate well into a movie. I don't recommend looking it up or watching it.
This song has little to do with the American legal system; it had to do with the Vietnam War. By the mid-1960s, young men were required to register with the federal government's Selective Service for military draft. Some went ahead and enlisted, many more tried to get into college for that college deferment that kept them out of being drafted, some joined the Peace Corps to serve in America of abroad in helping others, and some (known as 'draft-dodgers') left America to avoid military service. For many, they crossed over into Canada to accomplish this. There was a lot of panic among young people during that time.
Those that were called in for examination were checked for physical health, psychological stability, and often provided medical tests and vaccinations. If you were rejected on medical or psychological grounds, you were marked 4F and didn't have to serve, and many young men tried to get a 4F status. One way to be found 4F was to convince the draft board that you were homosexual, which at the time was considered a condition that made you unfit for service. Another way to get a 4F was to have a bad enough criminal record.
So, this song was satire; it was based on a true story that happened to Arlo, but he embellished it into a bit of comedy that went with the feelings of many young people of that time. They didn't want to go to war or be forced to do morally/ethically questionable things for a cause that made no sense to them. The Vietnam War was never an official war; it was called a 'police action'. Currently Putin is doing the same with his invasion of Ukraine.
No, Arlo wasn't trying to pass a message or instigate anything about the legal system or the military as such; he was aligning with the anti-war sentiment and movement already in place in the time this song was written. No one then took this as serious; it was just a hilarious take on dealing with a government demand few young people wanted to be burden with or forced to do.
You're quite the storyteller too. 🤟
Good summation. One point about the movie, though, the scene with Arlo and Pete Segar visiting "Woodie" in the hospital was tender and heartbreaking. The senior Guthrie died only a couple years before the film was made, and Pete and Arlo played for him just like in the film.
@@BoydsNest1959 good point. If I remember correctly that touching scene and the Amazing grace song scene were both very real moments for Arlo from his life. When the higher ups wanted to create something to pad the runtime Arlo wanted to make sure were included.
I do prefer Arlo's version but credit to Steve Goodman.
For many years, Classic Rock stations in the US would play this in the early afternoons on Thanksgiving Day, when everyone was in the kitchen cooking, and none of the DJ's wanted to work, so they'd take an extended smoking break. It, alongside the WKRP in Cincinnati "Turkey Drop" episode are modern USA'n secular holiday traditions.
KSHE-95 in St. Louis still does, every year at noon.
A Vietnam War protest song greatest of all time IMO " City of New Orleans " is my favorite by Arlo its great American folk song ✌💞
I saw Arlo in concert many times in my youth and this is my favorite song
There was a move about this made in 1969 & I don't remember much about it because I last saw it in 1987. Arlo is in it.
A 1969 film was based on this song. "If you wanna stop war and stuff you gotta sing LOUD! " What a line. But sadly, as Joni Mitchell sang in her song "California": They won't give peace a chance -- that was just a dream some of us had.
A great Thanksgiving song ! We listened every year on the radio going to our families for thanksgiving. They are gone now (RIP) but we still listen every morning while preparing the meal. Good one !!
Start reminding music reaction sites in usa that its a tradition from radio stations. (Actual reason is its a long song , by pre recording a bunch of holiday similar songs to tape with emergency backups most got to go home with family and one or two people could run the station for a while). I got Andy and Alex to play it 2022. Enough people start before Halloween and we could start a movement. And the best part, you can replay it all you want.
Isn't Arlo Guthrie still alive??
@@dianetaylor841 I think she meant her family are all gone now.
@@dianetaylor841 He is.
@@dianetaylor841 Yes, but no longer performing. I forget the reason why, but he said his guitar playing was no longer up to his standards and he didn't feel he could provide the sort of performance he felt his audience should get.
I have seen Arlo at least 3 times. And he plays and recites / sings the whole thing from memory.
I'm so happy that you enjoyed the song, Harri. I was young, and very much against the war when this song was released. I love the song every bit as much now as I did then. I've had the privilege of seeing Arlo perform 5 times. Except for the 50th anniversary tour for Alice's Restaurant when hearing it was a sure thing, each concert I hoped, but was convinced that he would not perform the song. I knew the concerts would be great no matter what, but he did perform it, each time. He is a fantastic performer. He lives in Stockbridge and owns the church now. Officer Obie played himself in the movie (apparently in spite of significant misgivings). He and Arlo subsequently became friends. He passed a few years ago.
I couldn't believe it when this popped up in my feed. Thank you for the reaction, Harri - rare, and much appreciated!
You would also like Guthrie's "Coming into Los Angeles" and, in a very different and beautiful vein, "City of New Orleans." Arlo is truly his father's son.
Anti-war, social commentary, and fun. It's a classic. I've been singing Alice's Restaurant since I was a teen and I am an old woman now. Thanks for reacting!
Oh yeah, he does it live, just like this, and all from memory... it's a masterpiece of its kind..........
Yes. They made a movie Alice's Restaurant.
I haven't heard this in decades. This was my dad's class of music.
Oh, I look forward to your reaction to this.
Yes, it would be pretty difficult to NOT like this “song.” I never got tired of listening to it! Not Thanksgiving without it.
I try to listen to this song every Thanksgiving. It has been a personal tradition from the late 60's. Arlo had the gift of story telling. Another Arlo Guthrie great was "City of New Orleans".
Having listened to this, I feel like I've been to the cinema. What a story. Certainly it's about Vietnam.
I listen to this every Thanksgiving. I got to see Arlo perform it live way back in the day. Enjoy
On top of all of the lengthy lyric is the mesmerizing fact that Arlo is the one playing the guitar through the entire song!
Brilliant insight into American culture told through humour and superb guitar playing. Never heard it before but couldn't stop laughing at the irony of the chain of events. And what a story teller! Thank you for posting and your openness to try more offbeat ideas.
now you need to watch the movie
I used to play this for my kids when they were preteens. I'm 73 now and my kids are in their 40's and they all still listen to this iconic tune every Thanksgiving. It's a tradition I hope always continues. Love ya Brandi, Brandon, and Blake!
Thanks. Haven't heard this great song in yrs.
This was indeed a protest against the war in Vietnam. Young American men were forced to go fight in a war they didn't believe in. They were coming back home, if they came back home, wounded or addicted to drugs. It was a horrible situation that still effects America. Young guys were trying everything they could to beat the draft and be rejected for service.
Some folks still play this every Thanksgiving. Glad you like it.
Arlo does it all live all the time .
Yes, I’ve seen him live and he’s spectacular !!!
A true classic. I'm glad that it is now part of your life and music background.
It should be noted the Arlo was the featured act at Woodstock. It's his picture that was used on the promotion posters. And yes I had the pleasure of seeing him live half a dozen times over the years, the last time being about 8 years ago where I got to shake his hand in thanks for all the years of inspiration, and yes he played Alice's Restaurant that evening. He is currently enjoying a well deserved retirement after 50 years of being on the road.
Yes, I have seen him live three times in the 70's. He did perform this....what an exceptional storyteller!
Anybody remember the "Rolling Blunder Review"? Arlo is one of the best story tellers. Truly gifted. Saw him a couple of times in Ct.
The holiday season is never complete for me until I hear this song. This year it was a special treat to share it with Harri and the other besties ❤️. Happy holidays to all 🎄🎁🍗🦃🎄. Love to all. I’m so glad you enjoyed this. 🎄🎁✌️
I saw Arlo with Pete Seeger, in western Massachusetts in 1977 or 78, and it was a wonderful experience. Yes, this became a movie. He was a clever, deep, performer and to see he and Seeger, who's social activism was legendary, was a special special day. I see many have stated about his dad, a god of American folk music; so glad you enjoyed and keep up the gracious work.
I saw Arlo way back when Yes he does the entire thing live
Hey Harri YOU are correct sir. There was a movie made of this song, Starring Arlo Guthrie his own self, along with Officer Obie, Alice, her husband Ray, played by James Broderick, and M. Emmett Walsh as the Army officer in charge of the Group "W" bench. The movie is a bit darker in tone than the song, and goes into alot more detail, about everything. I do have it in my DVD collection. I have seen Arlo in concert three times, he only played "Alice's Restaurant" at one of the shows, but he kept us entertained the whole time. He does tour with a full band, it is not just him, solo with a guitar, but that would be great. He's done those shows too, like his appearance at Woodstock in 1969.
*I hear this song once a year on Thanksgiving Day. It's an American tradition to hear this song on Thanksgiving.* 😎👍
He wasn't reading off a script; he actually had (and still has) the major beats memorized. It's a true story, embellished for comedic effect, but the gist of it really happened.
Just remember, it took place in the mid 1960's, and Arlo and his friend were hippies. That should clear up any questions you may have.
Alice's Restaurant was a Vietnam War protest song that was partly based on true events. This song reminds me of better times when I would listen to it with my brother.
All of the truly hip rock and roll stations play this song every Thanksgiving. I've heard it at least 100 times and it never gets old.
Yes, he did it from memory. They made a movie out of it. Enjoy
As many have commented here, I waited every year on Thanksgiving for it to be played on the FM radio-here in NYC it was WNEW and also on college radio stations. WFMU, Upsala College in NJ was one of them.
I knew every word and I still know every word and still listen to it on Thanksgiving.
I saw the movie when I was 15. It was released 2 years after the song. Same summer as Easy Rider. And the Woodstock concert. I love Arlo! In 1969 his album, Running Down the Road, was released. I still love every song. “Coming Into Los Angeles” was a hit.
“Coming into Los Angeles
Bringing in a couple of ki's
Don't touch my bags if you please
Mister customs man, yeah”
Those were the good old -and bad old-days. Music was phenomenal. But there were protests against the war in Vietnam and sometimes these ended up violent. In May 1970 the National Guard shot at peacefully protesting students at Kent State University and killed 4, wounded 9.
Harri if you have t yet, listen to Crosby Still Nash and Young’s “Ohio,” about that massacre.
Oh this brings back great times when family & friends got together & sang along to this story telling by Arlo Guthrie ! If you said - You can get anything you want… people automatically sang along to this happy, comedic recording . Thanks for this one, brings smiles & makes people sing a long and have fun 😻🇨🇦💥
I love Arlo, this was my first grown up album. I have seen him in concert many times but unfortunately I haven't seen him perform Alice's restaurant live.
I've seen him live twice at the Keswick and yeah hes just a natural born storyteller
I absolutely LOVE this song. I have listened to it every Thanksgiving since I was a child (40+ yrs). As a teenager I met Arlo and he was a very nice fellow.
I saw him a few years ago for the 50th Anniversary of Alice’s Resturant, and he recited the entire thing. It was made into a movie as well.
In answer to your question, yes, he still plays this live, keeps the amazing riff going throughout the whole performance. He must play it in his sleep as well. Great reaction to a 'song' I've been listening to since the seventies. Keep it going, Harri
I saw Arlo a couple years ago and he did indeed do the entire song on stage with no teleprompters or other props.
Yes I have seen him in Salt Lake City and he knows it by heart. It was one of my favorite songs I love turning people on to it every chance I got. I think I still have the album. That really put a smile on my face thank you for playing that I haven't heard it in a long time
I saw Arlo in the late 1980's where he worked the length of the song into a story of the 18 minute lapse in the Nixon Watergate tapes. It was friggin' genius.
Growing up, this was a family tradition. Listening to this and Adam Sandler Turkey song. Since my dad's passing this song just hits different. Can still see him looking back at me with a shit eating grin, singing at the top of his lungs. I'd give anything to hear him sing it one more time.
Nice post.
FIRST! I had to for this song. Thanks Harri! I hope this gets played in November again. 💜💜💜
Harri, I think this song is about the absurdities of fascist authority and war. But how great was it that his crime of being a litterbug was on the same level as the "father-rapers?" And the "kill" scene with the psychiatrist is one of the most memorable for me. He's trying to sound insane and not worthy of the military, but they LOVE him for that! The song is LONG, but worth every second IMO. It goes by so fast every year. He's a wonderful storyteller.
WELL DONE! May your numbers rise every Thanksgiving week. 😊
Hey Sister !
@@dianegoldeneye7363, hey hey! Holiday good so far?
😂 my family has played this song every Thanksgiving as far back as I can remember 😂 loved your reaction 😊
@@kimzwolinski9919, I can't take credit for this reaction, lol. Should I??? Maybe that could be my low-key crime in allegiance with the song. 😅😅😂
It is a Thanksgiving day tradition in my house to play ‘Alice’s Restaurant’ and singing along. Silly to some, but we have fun with it.
He was talking about the draft during Vietnam. The "movement" was the message. Yes, it used to get lots of play at Thanksgiving. Not sure if it still does or not. I'm old enough my first copy of this was on 4 track tape. Not 8 track, not cassette, but 4 track tape cartridge.
It’s been a longtime since I’ve heard that… I enjoyed every minute of it!
Generally, when you hear an American artist singing about the draft it’s a Viet Nam era song. I’m a Viet Nam vet and this was a very popular song in country, we loved it!
Harri, it IS a movie!! The movie, also called “Alice’s Restaurant”, was released in 1969, two years after the song came out. It’s well worth seeing. The film got nominated for Best Director at the Academy Awards.
The movie came out within 2 months of Easy Rider and the Woodstock concert. What a summer! I was 15.
Has sung about Alice since 1967. Yes, he is a marvelous story teller. He's still singing, now with his family.
This was an anti war song. This song gets played yearly on Thanksgiving Day by many American radio stations. It has become a tradition to listen to this on Thanksgiving.
I have seen him a couple of times. He is an excellent musician, and an amazing story teller. No script.
2 years after the song was released, Arlo Guthrie actually played himself in the movie version. It also had the real Alice, and the real Officer Obie
Yes, I was fortunate enough to see Arlo Guthrie live about 10 years ago. Yes he recites the songs with that iconic voice. Some of the old songs had totally new stories. The show was billed as "Arlo Guthrie Family." and featured at least a dozen children and grandchildren most of whom perform and record independently. Truly a family show, a with a pair of preschool girls hanging out and running around the stage. Good music and Good fun!
This song is played every Thanksgiving at my house . EVERY Thanksgiving ✌️❤️🎶I have seen this performed live many times , he AND the audience recite it word for word. And it was made into a movie starring the singer himself . Arlo is the son of Legendary folk singer Woody Guthrie
I’ve seen him live and there’s no script. He’s just a true folksinger, a storyteller. He’s as great as he sounds here. He was hilarious and had the crowd captivated the throughout the whole concert.
I was a storyteller for a number of years in the 90's, and I can tell you he is definitely doing this from memory. I'm sure you've noticed how much repetition there is in this song, for one thing. That's a classic tool of the storyteller, using chunks of words that repeat every time (the description of the photos, the shovel and rakes, "all kinds of mean nasty ugly horrible things"), as is the way he structured the story with a definite rhythm. Doing voices also helps, as it makes the characters distinct. The presence of the guitar helps, as well, and his use of it supports the recitation, as it carries the rhythm of the story, and he uses the guitar to hit the story beats - notice how he'll stop playing to punctuate a climactic moment and then resume slowly to telegraph his reaction. All of these things contribute to making the story easier to remember and recite. It really is an amazing piece of storytelling, and it's been a classic since the 60's. Really glad you decided to do this one, and that you enjoyed it so much. :)