Katie Velvet: A Retrospective Mystery

The Ballad of The Nameless: Woody Guthrie’s “Deportees”


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Today we're diving into Woody Guthrie's "Deportees (Plane Wreck at Los Gatos)," a protest song that moved me deeply as a child and continues to resonate as I learn to play it on guitar.

Written in 1948, this folk ballad was inspired by a plane crash that killed 28 migrant workers, unnamed in news reports. Guthrie's lyrics, addressing immigrant rights and human dignity, gave voice to those dismissed as mere "deportees."

Join me in examining this powerful piece that first captured my young imagination and now, as I strum its chords, reminds us of the ongoing struggle for immigrant rights and human compassion.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​



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Katie Velvet: A Retrospective MysteryBy Katie Velvet