Massachusetts (Arlo Guthrie song)
''Massachusetts'' is a song written and performed by Arlo Guthrie, released on his 1968 album Alice's Restaurant Massacree. The song, a rambling narrative, is not about the state of Massachusetts itself, but rather uses the state as a setting and a recurring motif within a much larger story.
Synopsis
The song details a series of events surrounding Thanksgiving 1965, focusing on Guthrie's arrest for illegal dumping of garbage. The events unfold chronologically, starting with the Thanksgiving meal, the subsequent trip to the dump with friends, and the eventual discovery of the dumped garbage by police. The narrative extensively covers his court appearance, highlighting the judge's quirky personality and the impact of the incident on Guthrie's draft status. The mention of Massachusetts, primarily referring to the location of the dump and subsequent court proceedings, serves as a geographical anchor for the narrative. The state's presence isn't thematic; instead, it's a locational detail integral to the story's progression. The song's length and digressive nature are key stylistic elements. Its overall message is anti-establishment and satirical, highlighting bureaucratic absurdity and questioning authority.
Musical Style and Structure
The song is characterized by its folk style, with acoustic guitar accompaniment and Guthrie's distinctive vocal delivery. Its structure is unconventional, mirroring the rambling nature of its storytelling. It lacks a traditional verse-chorus structure, instead opting for a continuous narrative punctuated by brief instrumental breaks and shifts in tempo. The length of the song contributes significantly to its overall effect, enhancing its satirical and comedic elements.
Cultural Impact
Alice's Restaurant Massacree, and consequently "Massachusetts," became a counter-culture anthem, gaining popularity during the anti-war movement of the late 1960s. The song's anti-establishment sentiments and its exploration of individual interaction with authority resonated strongly with a generation questioning societal norms and government policies. The song's legacy extends beyond its musical merit, becoming a cultural touchstone and a symbol of that era.
Related Works
The song's title and content are directly related to the album Alice's Restaurant Massacree, from which it is drawn. The entire album acts as a cohesive, extended piece of work, with "Massachusetts" forming a crucial component of the larger narrative. The song's story is primarily self-referential, though its themes of rebellion and societal critique connect it to wider artistic movements of the period.