Oh that's okay, there's lots of stuff that confuses me. Do you remember why you wrote "Alice"?
Nope, I can't really remember any specific reason as to why. We would turn everything into songs in those days. I remember we must have just come back from Officer Obie, and were sitting around, just discussing the events of the day, and started to sing about it.
Then part two, the part about the draft must have been written at a separate time.
I was out at college in Billings in 1965, and came home for Thanksgiving, and we were visiting our friends, and I decided not to go back to college. Well, in those days, that lost me my deferment for the draft. It took them a few months to catch up to me, so it wasn't until '66 that I had to go. It was actually they who made the connection between the two, bringing up the criminal record when I was up there… so after that it was just a natural connection to make and add it in to the song.
When did it hit you that you might be stuck singing it for the rest of your life?
It was pretty soon after the song came out on record that I knew people were going to want to be hearing it all the time. When I first started performing — I've been performing since I was 13, you know — I was performing my dad's songs, and stuff like that from that era. So when I first started playing ["Alice"] people would say why's he talking, why isn't he singing? Then after "Alice" became popular and all these people would show up wondering why I was singing and not talking…You're just not going to be able to please all the people…
People would get angry that I wasn't going to play it, and I'd say well go and get your money back…we'll play it on an anniversary tour. I don't mind playing "City of New Orleans" or "Coming into Los Angeles" because they're only a few minutes long, and that leaves room in the set for other music, but …
"Alice" is 20 minutes long…
Right, and that eats up lots of time. I'm really glad that I don't have a lot of hits. Willie Nelson, a friend of mine, has to do a medley of some 18 songs right off the top of his show so that he can get on with the stuff that he's doing now.
Article comments
1 - Lisa McKay
Richard, this was a terrific interview! Like most people my age, I have very fond memories attached to "Alice's Restaurant". I'm glad you veered off course with your questions -- it's a really compelling look at an interesting artist. Thanks.
2 - J. P. Spencer
I'm a little younger than Arlo's first audiences, but Arlo to me stands out as one of the few lights of decency left in the world.
And his live shows are not to be missed.
3 - Bonnie
Great interview, Richard. I was lucky enough to see Arlo Guthrie a couple of years ago at the Ottawa Folk Festival; he is such a charismatic storyteller. His kids were playing in his band that weekend, and though "Alice" wasn't part of the Arlo's mainstage show, the kids did it with some other performers on a side stage the next day. Tons of fun, and a song that definitely revists a time and place for me (even if it isn't 1965/6.)
4 - Jet in Columbus
It's become a standing tradition to play the Alice's Resturant CD after our Thanksgiving Meal.
Thanks for the memories.
Quick-what floor was the psychiatrist's office on?
5 - Triniman
Excellent interview, Richard. I wonder if we'll ever get one with Ignatieff, or if that opportunity and its relevence, have been overcome by events.
6 - Andy Marsh
great interview! Jet, a lot classic rock stations play it every T'day...
7 - Bliffle
Good interview. I don't think it's flat on the page. I think the words speak clearly and well.
8 - Richard Marcus
Fourth floor, damn I can't remember. I think that's cool that people have made that part of their holiday, does everyone go out and get busted for litering too? :)
I saw Arlo play with Pete Seeger back in 1980 in Toronto, and I should be going to review this current tour when it comes around on the guitar up here in Kingston. We have thanksgiving on the wrong day up here( or you do in the States I don't know which) but the song still means a lot.
If any of you want to expand on what the song means to you, we're going to be doing a special feature on it in mid May, which will be including my review and so far about six other B.C. writers writing about the song or the movie. It promises to be a blog meal that can't be beat...
Bonnie, on Live in Syndey Arlo talks about doing Alice with his kids one time, and he forgot the lyrics, and neither of them knew them to jog his memory enough to get him back on track. He said he went up to them after the show and said "Hey I knew my dad's songs, why don't you know mine" He went on to tell that over the course of the tour he would come across his daughter sitting off by herself in her spare time teaching herself the song... "It was like a great weight was lifted off my shoulders, I would never have to perform it again, it had passed on to the next generation...she's going to be in Austrailla in a couple of months, why don't you ask her to play I'm sure she be glad too..." The whole time he was telling this story of course he was doing that familliar refrain on the guitar.
It sure does seem like Mr. Ignatieff has forgotten about us doesn't it? Maybe now that he's running for leader though he might take the time... of course I'd like to change some of my questions... I'd have to ask him about his thoughts on Alice's Resaurant for one thing.
cheers all and thanks for the comments, Arlo is nothing if not a unifier for bringing people of all ages and backgrounds together.
Dave Naille if you read this post, I want to hear about Kinky Friedman running for Governor, that's something that never got reported up here, and that would have been news....
cheers
Richard Marcus
9 - Mark Schannon
Terrific job, Richard. I've loved Guthrie's songs for years. You really brought him to life as a thoughtful, intelligent, multi-dimensional person.
In Jamesons Veritas
10 - Lono
great piece. I am a big fan of Arlo. He is also the nicest musician I have ever met. I highly recommend his shows to anyone... it is more than a concert. It becomes an informal get together.
anyone reading who is a fan of Alice's Restuarant should also check out 'the Pickle Song'. It is funnier, and has a better melody too.
11 - Scott Butki
Great interview. I am very jealous.
I'd be mad if I saw Guthrie play and he didn't sing Alices but I can understand why. Very cool about having his kids playing the song now.
Did he say anything about the movie? I ordered it via Netflix and hope the song is on there.
12 - Jet in Columbus
No, sorry Richard, the line is "...go see the psychiatrist, room 604
You were close! :(
13 - Richard Marcus
Well I'll try this again, I tried to post earlier this morning and it didn't happen, lets see what happens now. Jet Hey for a dyslexic that means I got it right, just got it backwards he, he.
Sorry Scott we didn't even touch on the movie, at all
The Motorcycle song: He's actually expanded on the story line now for it as well, he now talks about how he used to be embaressed about being a collage drop out, and going into coffed houses and getting up and singing stuff like "I don't want a tickle, I just want to ride my motorcycle, I don't want a pickle i just want to ride my motorcycle, I don't want to die, I just want to ride my mortor cy cle. But he's found out that they do graduate seminars on that song now, so he doesn't feel so stupid after all. Then he continues on with how the string of his guitar breaking and wrapping around the sign post saved his life...
Richard Marcus
14 - Dave Nalle
The perfect interview for Richard to do, perhaps. Very enjoyable. Arlo seems as genuinely nice and non-judgemental as one would expect.
Dave
15 - gazelle
i'm so glad its still open, the restaurant that is, you know the one that belongs to Alice.
16 - Richard Marcus
Gazelle, the restaurant has been long closed, its the church that's being used. Remember "Alice didn't live in the restaurant, she and her husband lived in the church, a few blocks away from the restaurant...
Dave, I think you're right about that, he probably is the perfect interveiw for me, I was really impressed with his answers about issues dealing with America and how quick he was to defend it. None of that kneejerk automaticaly blaming the sins of the world on western society. Even lefties like me get tired of that line fast...it's too much of a cop out.
I wanted to ask you, so I hope you check back in, Dave, about Kinky's run for governor in Texas. There's another one of my idols, Mr. Friedman, I was wondering if you had followed his campaign at all...I think his ideas on border securtity were pretty solid...
Richard
17 - Dave Nalle
Dave Naille if you read this post, I want to hear about Kinky Friedman running for Governor, that's something that never got reported up here, and that would have been news....
I already wrote one article on it a couple of weeks ago. I'm now trying to line up an interview. After hearing him on the radio a couple of times and after having had a brief issues chat with Carole Strayhorn which was less than satisfactory, I'm leaning in his direction more and more.
Dave
18 - Scott Butki
Richard, I sent you an email a few days ago but didn't hear about. It was whether you want me to review the film and its relationship to the song.
Incindentally I realized that I saw Arlo play a show about three years ago and took a few photos of him.
He didn't play Alice's R. but was still pretty good. He was on the same bill with Rambling Jack Elliot.
19 - Richard Marcus
Scott, I just sent you an email, checked our correspondance and all I saw was a request for the lyrics or a copy of the song, no matter. If you don't get the letter, to your gmail account, the ansewr is most definately yes.
Richard
20 - Scott Butki
Ok, cool. Will do.
Incidentally, tt would be cool to have a link to the lyrics of the song.
21 - George C. Koller
Have you heard Woody singing "Goodnight, little Arlo, goodnight?" It's amazing how within three generations the Guthrie family embraces what is best about America! I mean the America of Arlo and Woody and Leadbelly and Dylan and Baez and Seeger and Cisco Houston and Phil Ochs, not the America of George W. Bush and company.
I remember living in New York in the mid-sixties and hearing Arlo sing Alice's Restaurant for the first time on WBAI, which is the listener-sponsored Pacifica radio station there. I was knocked out by it then, as well as through the years. I love the movie, also. I saw Arlo live years later in Toronto, he was playing with the McGarrickle (sp?)sisters. Great show! Great interview, thanks!
22 - niels hee andersen
nice to hear from this white haired survivor of long gone times.
We have had him visiting over here many times and once in our humble folk club to 39 paying guests , in spite of a sore throat, he retold the massacree to everyone´s delight.
but that was the 30th anniversary version, what is he up to this time!!
Also good memories of the Tonder Festival together with Pete Seeger,
thanx for the interview
23 - Scott Butki
Richard, I was thinking of this piece yesterday as a I read a WAshington Post travel piece about the town where the song is set. Email me your snail mail address and I'll send you a copy.