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Preferred citation:
Interview with
John Raitt
, conducted by Paradigm Productions, for The Good war and those who refused to fight it: the story of War War II conscientious objectors. Washington University Libraries, Film and Media Archive, Paradigm Productions Collection.
Note: These transcripts contain material that did not appear in the final program. Only text appearing in bold italics was used in the final version of The Good war and those who refused to fight it: the story of War War II conscientious objectors.
Okay John whenever you're ready give us the introduction.
Right. In the mid-seventies, I spent about three years of my life traveling from Maine to California performing in a, a country musical _Shenandoah_. It was highly successful. I played the role of Papa Charlie Anderson, who's a widower with a large family, tries desperately, and without success, to keep his five eligible sons home on the farm, out of the civil war. In the first scene, at the breakfast table, he runs into a confrontation with his sons, and sings this song.
Bravo!
Fabulous.
Okay we need—
Okay.
I'm ready.
Okay John, whenever you're ready.
I've always felt that we've needed to help the United Nations in more ways than one. And, at many functions I've sung for them, and this is the song that they seem to enjoy the most.
One more time.
It was "no man"
No, I—
Okay, go ahead and introduce the song again.
For many years I've been supporting the work of the United Nations, and many times I've sung for their functions, and this is one of the songs that I have sung with that group. That's not very good of a start again.
Okay, try again, okay. Yeah, you sang it for the United Nations and the Fellowship of Reconciliation.
I shall do that, you're right.
Okay, go ahead.
For the past, oh, forty years or more, I've been singing th-, this song for the United Nations and for the Fellowship of Reconciliation—
That's right, one more time.
That's—
Okay, take three, go ahead.
Right. For many years I've been a supporter of the United Nations and the Fellowship of Reconciliation. And, this is the song, I feel, that can exemplify what they really mean, what the work we need to do, to make it, this world a better place to live in.
Okay, let's just keep going. Let's do the close up.
Yeah.
What's that from? What's that song?
Just written, the song, you can look in the music, I didn't even look.
We'll have to 'cause we've got to clear it
No introductions, just go—
Yeah, just start—
Good.
We're rolling.
Go ahead John.
Oh, sorry.
In the early forties—
Q:I'm sorry. I, I stepped on the line. Start over.
In the early forties, a song was written by Sy Miller and Jill Jackson that said a lot of what we wanna p-, promote today in the world. I sang it on the steps of Los Angeles City Hall. I'd like to sing it for you now.
Let's keep rolling. Just
That's okay.
Wanna take a break—
Let this be my—
Rolling.