From: owner-joni-digest@smoe.org (JMDL Digest) To: joni-digest@smoe.org Subject: JMDL Digest V2012 #808 Reply-To: joni@smoe.org Sender: owner-joni-digest@smoe.org Errors-To: owner-joni-digest@smoe.org Precedence: bulk Unsubscribe:mailto:joni-digest-request@smoe.org?body=unsubscribe Website:http://jonimitchell.com JMDL Digest Wednesday, June 6 2012 Volume 2012 : Number 808 ========== TOPICS and authors in this Digest: -------- Devil's Bargain [Marianne Rizzo ] Re: Devil's Bargain [Lori Fye ] NJC Mellencamp to receive the John Steinbeck Award ["Cassy" Subject: Devil's Bargain I think of it this way too. "what we want at the cost of our humanity," and I will add, at the cost of our health. right now I see Hydrofracking as a "devil's bargain" . . . i.e.. We can industrialize the landscape and pollute the water and air, but you'll have your gas. . . yeah, some bargain. The same for me with nuclear energy. LOve Marianne From: Bob.Muller@Fluor.com Subject: Devil's Bargain Hi Matthew - I've always thought of that lyric (we are caught in the Devil's bargain) as a contrast to the "We are stardust, we are golden" concept; that is to say that we from pure origins but get caught up in more evil habits and lifestyles, a "devil's bargain" in the models of Faust or Robert Johnson, making a deal with the devil to get what we want at the cost of our humanity. The plea to "get back to the garden" is a plea to get back to our better, purer ways. Bob ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 5 Jun 2012 19:18:32 +0200 From: Lori Fye Subject: Re: Devil's Bargain Repeating what I just wrote in order to marry it to this thread and keep it intact ... Hi Matthew! Nice to hear from you, and it's so cool that you brought this up. (And thanks, Les, for sharing Matthew's question with the list.) Kind of goes along with some of themes I've been discussing (arguing about?) on my own Facebook wall today. For me, that line is similar to another lyric of Joni's, from the song (and album) "For the Roses": I guess I seem ungrateful With my teeth sunk in the hand That brings me things I really can't give up just yet Translation for me: We've allowed ourselves to get caught up in a situation where we hate the system that seems to force us into working for "the Man" and caving to the demands of our jobs, even when we hate many of the unpleasant and unjust things that happen (low pay and poor treatment for some workers, unchecked greed, pollution are just a few examples) that result. We know there is a better way, although that better way may and probably will require us to give up some of the nice things we want to keep. And that's the hard part: giving up what makes us feel good, however temporary that feeling may be, in order to achieve a greater good, or even our own personal freedom to be our own creative selves on our own terms. Just my random thoughts in the middle of a kind of strange day here in Germany. Best, Lori Dotzheim ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 5 Jun 2012 22:25:12 -0700 From: "Cassy" Subject: NJC Mellencamp to receive the John Steinbeck Award JOHN MELLENCAMP TO RECEIVE THE JOHN STEINBECK AWARD For the first time since Joan Baez in 2003, a musician will receive theprestigious John Steinbeck Award, "in the souls of the people." On Monday,July 30th, at the historic California Theatre in San Jose, CA, ThomasSteinbeck will present the John Steinbeck Award tosinger/songwriter/activist John Mellencamp. "A Conversation and SpecialPerformance" will include a talk with Mellencamp, moderated by RobertSantelli, executive director of the Grammy Museum, and musical performancefrom Mellencamp. Upon receiving the John Steinbeck Award, Mellencamp will have his namefurther linked to that of the legendary Baez on a select list of two as theonly recipients of both the Steinbeck and Woody Guthrie awards. Mellencampreceived the Guthrie award in 2003. The John Steinbeck Award has been called "a beacon for the left" and itslist of recipients "a who's who of disturbers." Previous recipients of theJohn Steinbeck Award are: Bruce Springsteen, Arthur Miller, Studs Terkel,Dolores Huerta, John Sayles, Jackson Browne, Garrison Keillor, Joan Baez,Michael Moore, Sean Penn, and Rachel Maddow. Of John Mellencamp, Thomas Steinbeck, noted author and the surviving son ofJohn Steinbeck, said: "My father always carried a deep and profound respectfor songwriters and musicians. He felt they were the voice of the peopleand had the unique opportunity to reach the very souls of the people. LikeWoody Guthrie, Bruce Springsteen, and a handful of others, John Mellencamphas done just that. He has spent his life serving as a voice for the people. "John's 40-year career makes one marvel. As an artist, John Mellencamp hasbeen a superb singer-songwriter-storyteller; as an exemplary activist, andas a creator and longtime champion of Farm Aid, he has maintained the truespirit of John Steinbeck's compassion for the worker. Without question,John Mellencamp has earned the John Steinbeck Award, and it will be mygreat pleasure to present it to him." John commented, "John Steinbeck's remarkable ability to give voice to thecommon man and to people on society's margins, to describe their plight andaspirations, continues to inspire us more than a century after his birth.I'm very honored to be the recipient of an award given in his name." ------------------------------ End of JMDL Digest V2012 #808 ***************************** ------- To post messages to the list, sendtojoni@smoe.org. Unsubscribe by clicking here: mailto:joni-digest-request@smoe.org?body=unsubscribe -------