Dusty Old Dust

“So Long, It’s Been Good to Know Yuh”  (originally titled “Dusty Old Dust”) is a song by American folk musician Woody Guthrie first released in 1935, and part of his album Dust Bowl Ballads.  The composition is considered one of Guthrie’s best songs, defining his style, and demonstrating his “increasing comfort with writing topical songs about the poor and downtrodden”.  The song was also included in the Library of Congress Recordings from 1940 made by Guthrie and Alan Lomax.  Guthrie also wrote a version of the song with alternate lyrics about serving in the Second World War.  The song was occasionally used as a closing song on the variety show A Prairie Home Companion, usually with additional comical verses written by host Garrison Keillor.  (More from Wikipedia)

 

The best known song on the Woody Guthrie album Dust Bowl Ballads is “So Long, It’s Been Good to Know Yuh” (called “Dusty Old Dust” on the album).  The Weavers had a hit with “So Long (It’s Been Good to Know Yuh)” in 1951, taking it to #4 on the pop music charts and becoming one of their “staple” songs.  From Wikipedia:  “The repetitive chorus has been described as ‘a witty, black retort, utterly negative and apocalyptic’”.

(March 2015)