Plagiarism Is Basic To All Culture

Alan Lomax Is The Person Who I Think Should Be Given Major Credit For What Has Been Called The "folk Song Revival." My Father Participated With Him Because My Father Was A Musicologist And Urged Trained Musicians To Learn About "the Vernacular."

My Mother Wanted Me To Learn How To Read Music. She'd Given Fiddles To My Two Older Brothers, But They'd Rebelled. I Came Along And My Father Said, "oh, Let Peter Enjoy Himself." What She Did Was Leave Musical Instruments All Around The House. Whistles, Marimbas, Squeeze Boxes, A Piano And Organ. By Age Six Or Seven, I Could Bang Out A Simple Tune On Almost Anything. I Developed A Good Ear, So I Didn't Learn To Read Music Until I Taught Myself At Age Eighteen, 'cause I Was Hearing So Many Good Songs I Couldn't Possibly Remember Them All.

I Have To Resist The Temptation To Want To Learn Everything. You Know, You Can't. You Have To Restrict Yourself At Some Time, Or Else You Find Yourself Just Being Spread Too Thin. And Already I Think I Try Too Many Things.

The First Step In Solving A Problem Is Admitting There Is A Problem To Be Solved.

Every Time I Read The Paper Those Old Feelings Come On.we Are Waist Deep In The Big Muddy And The Big Fool Says To Push On.