Miami Dade College Traditionally Folk Art Family Discussion

A folk art is traditionally passed from one generation to the next, and is usually learned by listening or observation. Most often the art has elements of artistic design but often serves a family, tribal, or community function. Do you have a relative who plays guitar and sings songs about their experiences? Do you have a relative or friend who makes quilts? Does someone you know make a special food at certain times of the year for special occasions? If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, then you know a folk artist!

Instructions

Write a paragraph or two about the person, their art, and your experience with it.

You may want to ask them:

How they learned their art?

What it means to them?

Who did they teach?

Rewrite three (3) verses of “This Train,” by Woody Guthrie, as an expression of your thoughts and feelings. See lyrics below.

Make sure your words rhyme in the correct places. Have fun with this! Woody would approve!

Lyrics – The Train

This train is bound for glory, this train.
This train is bound for glory, this train.
This train is bound for glory,
Don’t carry nothing but the righteous and the holy.
This train is bound for glory, this train.

This train don’t carry no gamblers, this train;
This train don’t carry no gamblers, this train;
This train don’t carry no gamblers,
Liars, thieves, nor big shot ramblers,
This train is bound for glory, this train.

This train don’t carry no liars, this train;
This train don’t carry no liars, this train;
This train don’t carry no liars,
She’s streamlined and a midnight flyer,
This train don’t carry no liars, this train.

This train don’t carry no smokers, this train;
This train don’t carry no smokers, this train
This train don’t carry no smokers,
Two bit liars, small time jokers,
This train don’t carry no smokers, this train.

This train don’t carry no con men, this train;
This train don’t carry no con men, this train;
This train don’t carry no con men,
No wheeler dealers, here and gone men,
This train don’t carry no con men, this train.

This train don’t carry no rustlers, this train;
This train don’t carry no rustlers, this train;
This train don’t carry no rustlers,
Sidestreet walkers, two bit hustlers,
This train is bound for glory, this train.

This train is bound for glory, this train.
This train is bound for glory, this train.
This train is bound for glory,
Carries nothing but the righteous and the holy.
This train is bound for glory, this train.