Episode Transcript
[00:00:07] Speaker A: Hi, this is Aaron Nathans from the Nathans and Roncast. This week we're featuring my friend and the musical force of nature here in the Philadelphia music scene. Mr. Rob Lincoln. Rob reminds me a little of myself and his willingness to write about anything, including real people. We share an appreciation of historical figures. He took the stage name Lincoln after all. It's his middle name. Today we'll present his song about a different former president. But first, I want to tell you a little more about Rob. He's a leader in the local music scene. I met him shortly after I moved back east in the mid two thousand s. And at the time, I barely knew anyone in Philadelphia beyond family, much less any musicians. He was a big voice and a big presence at the Philadelphia Area Songwriters alliance events. It was hard to miss Rob. It was at one such pasa event that I was having a conversation around the potluck table with the late Sharon Abbott, and I casually mentioned something called February album writing month. That was a relatively new thing at the time. Invented in Madison, Wisconsin, where I had just moved from, fom is an online community of people who spend the month of February writing 14 songs. That's something that I did and continue to do pretty much every year. Sharon mentioned it to Rob, and it didn't take Rob long to get hooked on Fom. He could always be counted on to push out well above the required amount of songs every February. In those songs, his playful side was always on display, something I've always admired about his work. But Rob's gone further. Much further. He has a YouTube series called Quest for a thousand songs. He's already up to song number 926. What can I say? The man is prolific. But Rob is much more than just putting up numbers. You will find no finer gentleman, nor anyone more devoted to the craft of songwriting and the art of folk music. These days, he's a driving force behind the resurgent Philadelphia Folk Song Society, which is planning, after one fallow summer, to once again stage its legendary Philadelphia folk Festival this August. Here's one of my favorite tunes off of Rob's album. Five cents a song. It has 300 songs on it, which is apparently a record for number of songs on a debut album. This tune is a celebration of FDR. This is Roosevelt surround.
[00:02:31] Speaker B: Oh, I'm gonna hop afraid this morning I'm working down today I'm gonna hop a freight this morning gonna ride on Santa Fe I'm gonna leave this old dust bowl I'm gonna leave today I'm gonna leave this old dust bowl gonna work for the TVA.
[00:02:50] Speaker C: Tennessee is where I'm bound?
[00:02:53] Speaker D: I was lost and I was down now Rose about surround?
[00:02:58] Speaker B: Then I'm rolling up my sleeves? Oh, Mr. Hoover, he's coming, gone? He fired on the veterans? Oh, Mr. Hoover, he's coming, gone? He ain't a working man's friend? A chicken in every pot, he said he didn't keep his word? A chicken in every pot he said, I didn't see no bird?
[00:03:19] Speaker C: Tennessee is where I'm bound?
[00:03:21] Speaker D: I was lost and I was down now roll the belts around?
[00:03:26] Speaker E: And I'm rolling up my sleeves?
[00:03:38] Speaker B: If you're a working man today, you.
[00:03:41] Speaker C: Must love Frank Lindy.
[00:03:43] Speaker B: Nothing to fear but fear itself. He speaks for you and me? Though born with a silver spoon and mouth, he grew a silver tongue? Just listen to his fireside chat? You know that we are one?
[00:03:57] Speaker C: Tennessee is where I'm bound?
[00:04:00] Speaker D: I was lost and I was down? Now rose about surround?
[00:04:05] Speaker E: And I'm a rolling up my sleeve?
[00:04:07] Speaker C: Tennessee is where I'm bound?
[00:04:09] Speaker D: I was lost and I was down now on the belts around?
[00:04:14] Speaker E: And I'm a rolling up my sleeve? And I'm a rolling up my sleeve.
[00:04:22] Speaker A: Thank you for listening to the Nathan's and Roncast. Do look up Rob's music. His YouTube series is called Quest for a thousand songs. And please do us a favor and follow the Nathan's and Roncast on Apple Podcasts. We'd love to grow our audience and it's a great way to make sure you don't miss an episode. Have a great day and we'll see you next week. Peace.
