Song for Up with People

Under Appreciated

SONG FOR UP WITH PEOPLE
 
 
 
Another song mentioned in the Village Voice article, “Song for Up with People” (just being able to put three prepositions together was probably an attraction for Thomas Anderson) refers to the troupe of earnest clean-cut musicians called Up with People who were (as RJ Smith put it) “folk minstrels of the ’60s who caravanned their vanilla-wafer optimism to the parts of the country terrified by loud guitars”.  For the typical iconoclastic or cynical singer-songwriter, they would be an easy target.  But Anderson was not at all judgmental and was even admiring of them in a way.  I saw or heard Up with People myself once, though I forget where; they weren’t bad at all for what they did. 
 
(November 2012)
 
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Maybe some lyrics instead? (from Thomas Anderson’s website, www.angryyounggradstudent.com/ ).  This will let you know how thoughtful his songs are.  

 

Song for Up with People 

 

Up With People came to town one night

Singin’ a song about the late Ed White,

Against a backdrop of him walking in space,

Floating in time with impossible grace.

Dazed by the stardust and dazzled by the moon,

They come with endorsements from John Wayne and Pat Boone--

It’s a road to tomorrow we can all agree upon,

Take a left down Carnaby Street straight into Saigon.

 

     And Peter and Michael and Micky and Davy,

     And a sign says Pray For Rosemary’s Baby;

     We’ll pass it ’round the bar

     And we’ll run it up the steeple,

     And we’ll stare at the bus that says Up With People. 

 
(November 2014)
 
Last edited: March 22, 2021