If the audience at Popejoy Hall this afternoon is an example the flowers haven’t gone anywhere, we’re just a little wilted. As the nth iteration of the Kingston Trio took the stage to sing those fine old songs, we mature folkies in the crowd were thrilled to be there—alive, healthy enough to get to the theater and still remembering all the words to Tom Dooley!  I suspect some in the crowd were simply loyal Popejoy season ticket holders though since it seems unlikely so many former long-hair dope-smoking obsessive folk fans would have aged into Sunday afternoon dress-up and stiffly sculpted hairdos. And there was not a boisterous fan raising his/her voice or dancing in the aisles as Charlie continued his ride on the MTA. Were we all just too damn stiff or missing our afternoon naps?

It really was a perfect afternoon.  My friend Bob, who knows all of the folk music of the era and I, who associate some of the most exciting times of my life with those songs of politics, social change, rebellion, and love found/love lost, enjoyed every minute with our memories. Afterward we ate a tasty mix of Chinese/Vietnamese at StreetFood Asia and went home to our Sunday evening TV favorites. Back in the day we would have met friends, drank beer, smoked cigarettes and talked politics into the night but that was then, this is now, and I will feel much better tomorrow because of it.

REMEMBER…

WHERE HAVE ALL THE FLOWERS GONE

(words and music by Pete Seeger)

Where have all the flowers gone?/Long time passing/Where have all the flowers gone? /Long time ago/Where have all the flowers gone?/Girls have picked them every one/When will they ever learn?/When will they ever learn?

Where have all the young girls gone?/Long time passing/Where have all the young girls gone?/Long time ago/Where have all the young girls gone?/Taken husbands every one/When will they ever learn?/When will they ever learn?

 Where have all the young men gone?/Long time passing/Where have all the young men gone?/Long time ago/Where have all the young men gone?/Gone for soldiers every one/When will they ever learn?/When will they ever learn?

 Where have all the soldiers gone?/Long time passing/Where have all the soldiers gone?/Long time ago/Where have all the soldiers gone?/Gone to graveyards every one/When will they ever learn?/When will they ever learn?

 Where have all the graveyards gone?/Long time passing/Where have all the graveyards gone?/Long time ago/Where have all the graveyards gone?/Covered with flowers every one/When will we ever learn?/When will we ever learn?