My Grandmother’s Iron
Bertha and her mother
My Friends, I’m writing this on the day after the election. For me, it is a hard day. So I’ll tell you something about some courageous women who have inspired me to keep on keepin’ on.
My Grandma Bertha was a strong woman. Here she is with her mother. I inherited her iron, which she would heat on the wood stove. She married at 14. She was known by the men in her life as stubborn. I’d call it brave. I’d call it iron. When she caught my grandfather cheating, she locked him in a closet for three days until he was ready to change his ways. I loved my grandmother. My Texas relatives remain deeply woven into my identity.
Malvina and Me
I was living in Berkeley in the early 70s when I met my mentor and inspiration, Malvina Reynolds in a local music store. I loved her, as did many, as one who expressed her activism through songs….great songs! I stepped up, introduced myself as a fledgling songwriter, and that began our friendship. She invited me to share concerts. I sang her my songs.
Once I wrote a sappy song about her, and she wouldn’t have it! She said, “You need to learn to put an edge on it”. And from then on, I did! I loved that Malvina was an older woman whose songs brought joy and deep respect. Malvina died at 78 and remains a foremother to so many of us.
It seems to me that we are called to be kind, self-reflective, and pro-active today. Let’s remember the strong women and men who came before us. Let’s tell our stories. Let’s remember that we have much more in common as part of the human family than any political party will admit. And never, never give up hope.
Take care of each other -
Linda
PS: I have a YouTube channel! Please come visit!
https://www.youtube.com/@lindaallen5046
Here’s Scott:
I had such fun revisiting this March 4th concert during the editing process! Whereas those of us who were at the FireHouse had a couple of hours at the actual event itself, I had the luxury of immersing myself in this wonderful event, and I came out feeling like I’d been bathed in joy.
After editing out most of the microphone adjustments, musician transitions, intermission, blank spaces, and clumsy transitions which are inevitable in any live concert, and adding only a very few visual and audio enhancements at various points, what remains is the essence of this wonderful community event - the sort of “maple syrup moments” if you will, of a time that was not only heartwarming but which ended up raising over $1,500 for the Bellingham Food Bank.
So I sincerely hope you take some time to listen to and enjoy this video recording. Whether or not you were in attendance at the FireHouse on March 4th, this is your chance to have your very own command performance of the concert! The recording quality is excellent thanks to the skill and attention of recording guru Phil Heaven, so go ahead and listen to a little of it, fix lunch or supper, then come back and treat yourself to a little more after watching the evening news, or on your phone just before you go to bed. Next morning, listen to another song or two as you fix your tea or coffee. Take your time to take it in.
However you do it, I promise you it will be a tonic for a blue day, and a supplement to a sunny one. Enjoy!
The March 4th Fundraiser and CD Release Celebration was great fun! To be surrounded by wonderful musicians, friends, and community acquaintances in such a loving and upbeat environment was incredibly special. Perhaps most important, it was an honoring of Linda and her role as songwriter, poet, and powerful musical presence in this community, and a loving recognition of the amazing body of work she has produced for over half a century, continuing right up to this remarkable CD, “Emergence.”
Thanks to all!!
Part of that fun, too, also extended beyond the event to being able to hand over to the Food Bank the money that was raised through ticket sales and donations. The picture above is me delivering the check you see to BFB’s Administrative staffer, Erin Vonnahme. And in case you’re a numbers nerd like me, directly above is a snippet of how we arrived at the amount donated,
Scott Slaba
You can view the short, 3-minute trailer to the “Here’s to the Women” performance above. For more information on booking a showing of this film, please contact me: www.lindasongs.com
Thank you!!! And please share!
Linda Allen
Women’s Suffrage
One-hundred years ago, Suffragists were state by state launching their final campaigns to secure the ratification of the Nineteenth Amendment. And then the Pandemic struck, active from 1918 through 1920. As today, people were told to wear masks and to stay home. In 1920, Carrie Chapman Catt was still trying to recover from the flu when she made her way to Nashville for the final push in a dramatic battle for passage.
I’m happy to announce that my 53-minute film of “Here’s to the Women” and the trailer (see above) are now complete! It premiered at Seneca Falls Women’s Rights Historical Park on August 23rd, and is now available for individual or group showings.
You are invited to visit our Suffrage Page to find information about the virtual program, explore both traditional and my more recently composed music of Suffrage, books, movies, links and a host of other Suffrage resources. You can also visit our store to see other Suffrage products: jewelry, note cards and more.
Be safe and celebrate our victories. And, as always, may we honor our ancestors by continuing their work for justice.
Linda
“To the wrongs that need resistance, to the right that needs assistance, to the future in the distance, give yourselves”
“Whether tender or strident, lyrical or percussive, her vocal eloquence adds to the power of her lyrics and music
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To listen to tracks and read about each song, click on the image above.
““Allen’s life work uncovers the injustice, focuses on that and brings song to help mend and move through our life cycles. Congrats to Allen on fifty years.”
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“Linda Allen: Hear Her Roar”, Entertainment News Northwest, April 2019. Read the article here.
Back in the late 1970s, when I was newly arrived in Bellingham, I put together a CETA grant to create the Rainy Day Songbook and an accompanying cassette. I worked with the Whatcom Museum, the library, and a host of wonderful musicians, some of whom have now passed on. The Rainy Day Songbook is long out of print, but I recently found the master for the cassette, and Phil Heaven re-mastered it. With copyright considerations, it is not available to download, but you can listen to it all. The Songbook is only available used, but some of the highlights are also online.
I have just loved hearing these voices from out of the past. For a taste of the fun stuff that’s in this collection, click on on the audio track to “Silver Tip” just to the right.
To access all the songs on the album, go to our Washington, My Home link and click the ‘Listen” button.
Have fun!
To listen to an archive of the Rainy Day Band in concert:
The Rainy Day Band
