The Hostage,” about New York State’s Attica prison uprising of 1971, is a harrowing lyric from the viewpoint of a murdered guard—who blames government authorities, not the prison’s inmates. That these fans still enjoy his work is a testament to the quality of his recent work, and to the enduring power of modern standards like The Last Thing On My Mind, Ramblin’ Boy, Bottle Of Wine, Whose Garden Was This? I have sung Tom’s songs for three decades and will go on doing so in the new century, for they are beautiful and timeless, and meant for every age.

Tom Paxton Discography | Discogs Tom Paxton Discography | Discogs

It was a beautiful summer afternoon, with breezes blowing off the Hudson River, as Tom Paxton picked up his acoustic guitar under a bright tent at the Clearwater Festival in Croton Point Park, some 30-plus miles north of New York City. L-R) John Sebastian, Josh White Jr, Peter Yarrow, Tom Paxton and Pete Seeger with Adam Amram right, perform onstage at the he 'Power of Song' Award Concert to Benefit Pete Seeger's Clearwater Program which honored David Amram at Symphony Space in New York on Nov. Paxton — who turns 85 today— is one of the most important figures in American songwriting and the folk music tradition. and performed alongside such folksingers as Bob Dylan, Phil Ochs, Eric Andersen, Dave Van Ronk, and Mississippi John Hurt. After a stay in England due to professional success and love of the country, Paxton and Midge went on a tour of New Zealand and China and even appeared on a Chinese talk show.Paxton wrote a number of topical protest songs that were critical of the Bush administration's actions. Paxton's songs have been featured in the following movies: A Time for Burning (1966), Jennifer on My Mind (1971), Demolition Man (1993), The Family Man (2000), North Country (2005), and Spike (2008). Bob Dylan “is usually cited as the founder of the New Song movement, and he certainly became its most visible standard-bearer, but the person who started the whole thing was Tom Paxton,” wrote the late folk pioneer Dave Van Ronk in his memoir The Mayor of MacDougal Street. One character in the film, the earnest Troy Nelson, is based on Paxton and performs “The Last Thing On My Mind” in the movie.

TOMS Paxton Womens Leather Ankle Boot – Robin Elt Shoes

Since the election of Donald Trump—”this buffoon we have in the White House,” says Paxton—how has he reacted? What sets Paxton’s songs apart is a deep sense of empathy, conveyed by his writing in the first-person. It was during this time that Paxton continued to suffer from an undiagnosed and deepening depression that affected his work. Paxton increased his profile as a performer, appearing at the 1963 Newport Folk Festival, which was recorded by Vanguard Records.Paxton's songs can be emotionally affective and cover a wide range of topics, from the serious and profound to the lighthearted and comical. Jimmy Newman,” sung from the perspective of a young soldier in Vietnam, with its heart-breaking final verse, remains one of the most moving anti-war songs ever written. The variety of songs on the album—including love ballads, children’s songs, topical broadsides—anticipated the scope of Paxton’s own career.