I've been enjoying his music for a while now, but I had no idea what a deep thinker he was. Absolutely wonderful!

I love the pregnant pause he uses after "so then you wont abuse, words like Freedom;;" Through and through beautiful.

... "tradition is a guide, not a jailer"; such a young and wise man. This is America we all love, not the corporate landscape ruining everything.

His comments are amazingly relevant now more than ever. Talented thoughtful musician and thinker. Multilayered person.

Im watching this 2021..this is profoundly prophetic. He really is a philosophical visionary. Pretty rad dude.

Jaw dropping talent in music and philosophy. Pokey LaFarge is the real deal!!

This man is a living Time Machine with an amazing grasp of history. Not to mention a world class musician, writer Performer! How on earth is he not a household name!?!? He dwarfs the entertainers of today, all of ‘em! An American Treasure!

The world needs more people like Pokey La Farge in the world. I love his music and everything he stands for. I am quite proud that he is a fellow Illinoisian. I cannot wait to see him in concert again.

I love Pokey as a musician, a songwriter, and as an entertainer. But the more I learn about him, read about him, etc...the more I realize I love him as an (accidental) educator and as a humanist. I love that he is always learning and sharing his experience. Proud to support him any way I can.

What ever “it” is, he’s got IT. I love his music and he knows why better then I do.

He is a national treasure at such a young age

I love pokey's music.....But after hearing what he has to say , I think he'd also make a fantastic president. What a sane, intelligent, progressive, articulate, warm and incredibly positive Man he is. I'm so impressed with this.

Just saw him perform live in Cleveland, Ohio (Oct.2021). If you ever get the opportunity go see Pokey in concert. An excellent musician and singer, an extraordinary songwriter, and a dynamic and energetic performer. The thoughts & ideas he discusses in this TED talk come out through his music.

Drats!!! I need to be about 40 years younger. I'm already in St. Louis. Whoo-ha ! Pokey has it all. Brains and talent.

Wonderful talk. So articulate and thoughtful. It's clear where his musical inspiration comes from.

Pokey has a good ear for music and understanding the cultural heritage paramount here. I've also got an ear for older music, the more produced it sounds the less I'm interested, the compression used in old recordings is like a main-line to my brain, bands I've played in all share a period in time but all have created new songs to be a part of this rich tapestry, I hear the roots of music in everything I listen to but not often thrilled in this modern sounding world

This is absolutely amazing. It's so refreshing to hear such well presented ideas coming from an entertainer.

This man time traveled back to us. I’m certain of it.

In Australia and i bloody love his music and have a for years now

Big fan.... in an age that technology is an answer for lack of talent. This man makes his hay with tradition and creativity. He proves the best songs have not all been written and that the blues will never die....western music is steeped in it

What a great person is this musician!!!

This is a great talk on music and the importance to preserve it along with passing it on to another generation.

Agree on every level! Thank you Pokey and Thank you for your music! God Bless brother!

What a strikingly handsome man, on top of the gifts he shares! I loved this talk.

Well spoken man and a very entertaining musician.

This guy gets it. Happy to get to know him and listen to his perspective, which is not new, but it is refreshing.

Good talk, enjoyed that, lots of food for thought. In Scotland & Ireland, where they have a very dynamic (esp) folk scene, they are very clear about the importance of the interaction between tradition and innovation, which I think sums this up.

I hope a lot of people are getting what his true gift is between his music and this talk. He is asking people to bridge the differences and open your mind and we can all live together if we are able to just change a few things in the way we think. I wish I had this gift, It is only given' to very few!

I been digging Pokey since 2016. I'm 67 I've turned people in 20s on to him.

Wow, I am glad I just discovered this guy. Outstanding music & well balanced attitude & thoughts. Thanks, keep up your good work.

LovePokey LaFarge!

It's great to hear Pokey just speak. A true original type musician and thinker. So many great thoughts... Couldn't draw a blueprint....? I think you probably could.

The first time I saw Pokey it was clear to me that this guy was so cool and smart. Beautiful mind and great talent!

I love this dude. Awesome young man. Amazing music.

It’s kind of funny to see the “Fuck Me Up” guy in a suit giving a lecture.

love his music but what bright tuned in mind he has and such an ability to project his knowledge and philosophy.

Excellent musicianship instantly I heard pure Americana from day 1 he has some great unique talent

man in 2022, this guy's words couldn't be more true.. really ahead of his time in his thinking, especially the part where he speaks of embracing our past and celebrating the things we've overcome instead of letting our past be our downfall.

Billy Bragg is cool, I am sure he would agree with you and he has been quoted out of context Pokey, you are awesome Pokey, England and the States does has a huge amount of music crossover right back to the original songs of the founding fathers. For example I discovered an old Appellation tune that is the same song that exists from Somerset England. The music is by far and away the best thing to have come from you and you are correct in saying that you all should be proud of your heritage.

I love him even more now.❣

I am shocked by this speech, as it comes from a young person. As a gen x, I was there to see the best of America slip away. I keep telling gen y, and z that we should go back in time but lose the "isms" like racism, sexism, and other hate. Also the restrictions of personal freedoms. Then this nation would recover it's greatness and expand upon this. I also explain that capitalism is not the problem, as it worked for decades, but instead greed is the issue. They think I am crazy! I agree with everything Pokey said. So he can tell them! :D

I worked the audio-video of this event, and had the pleasure of meeting him and other brilliant people at this event. He is very much down to earth and a friendly soul :)

POKEY HAS AN APPROACH TO MUSIC AND LIFE THAT IS PRICELESS !

FUCK YEAH thank you for your advice Brother

Jr Brown.....is the king of tradition country/swing with a touch of jazz, blues, rock and rock a billy, and swing. Check him out !

American music is awesome!

JamesScott Guitar, your right American music is world music. We were and still are the melting pot of the world. Irish, English, Black, German and just about every culture and country were it's roots are from people landing on our shores. He's making the point that it's evolved from it's beginnings and we transitioned and mixed it into "American Music" . But, the black music in this country that was created might have originated in Africa was morphed into Blues, Jazz and Gospel then combined with several combination of Application Music and Irish Folk music to become Rock N Roll. Just read about the Everly Brothers background and origin of they're songs. This combination resulted in what we know as American Music. Thank God it did. Way to go Pokey, I think your fantastic and I love the words in your songs. You have something positive to say as well. You're one of a kind for sure.

Pokey for President 2024

Man I can't wait to see Pokey here in Muncie. Heard him only a few months ago, saw a flyer for the show a few days ago.

Nice whistle! Whistel and Flute/Suit that is.

the american nation has nothing to fear as long as there are people like mr.Pokey LaFarge. Mr. LaFarge you have my respect as a citizen of our planet who adores music ,cultures and human beings

I love this guy. What an amazing human.

"Tradition is a guide not a jailer." What a wonderful attitude.

Dear Pokey. A Spoken Word tour of You n Henry Rollins, would TOTALLY Kill. Cheers frum SpoCanada

God I love this dude!

Pokey LaFarge è un GRANDE!!!!

and it's from 2014 ??? I have known he is a big one, a prophet, a CHARACTER! I'm so happy!

shit man. great speaker. great entertainer. intelligent and funny, all on central time. 10/10

Listen people! Music is music. Those who produce it are amazing. However, nothing dictates music. It's like beauty. It's in the eye (or the ear) of the beholder. Don't over complicate any form of visual, audial or any other form of art.

Amazing talk, Pokey!

His music is is the popular music styles from nineteen twenty to the start of ww2. Like today we have classic rock which spans about the same amount of time. It's classic pop.

this man is a sagely soul

Brilliant! There is hope in American youth after all.

Well said !!!

The point I always take is that .....You can never re-invent the Wheel.....but you can find new and interesting ways to use the wheel and keep it rolling.....just like Music....you can never Re-invent music...however you can find interesting ways to "keep it Rolling along".

I know I'm late on this but... Pokey for President?.....

Is anyone more COOL than Pokey LaFarge?

Well said young sir.

Skiffle scuffle … in a British tea cup, as Billy Bragg brings out the pugilist in Pokey LaFarge! www.nodepression.com/profiles/blogs/skiffle-scuffle-as-billy-bragg-brings-out-the-pugilist-in-pokey

I love Pokey and this was just wonderful. The audience was a little shy though.

Wow! Pokey is okey dokey!

Spot on !

What an incredible human

Write him in in November 2024!

I love this guy

and music will set you free..

Aside from getting influences surrounding Jimmie Rodgers completely back asswards, nice talk.

LaFarge 2024

i call you refreshing

Really like this guy. Id vote for him

True true true Pokey

Damn I love this guy. I discovered him way too far down the road. HAHA I said this before he said the Taylor Swift part. haha

"Pls, Do Not Piss Off the Masters of the World!" P.S. - like Pkey LaFarge! - pls again.. do not!

Amen.

EEK...Tough crowd !

President of U.S material !!

5:45 - and THIS EXACTLY STEP BACK IS... it's kind of a secret, (sacred)... it's like to discover and open the wholesale of real AFRICAN music through their Jamaican grand, grand, sons, and daughters... The same with any Jazz music...

TIL Pokeys voicebox is a 1932 HMV gramophone speaker

Brilliant musician and thinker. Just wondering if he has a brother named Hokey(just kidding)

❤️

You sing like your from down south ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

Loved what you were saying Pokey till you said Lonnie Donegan claimed his music was British. He always gave providence to its roots, the American country.

Pokey is an inspiring, joyous and entertaining performer. Either solo or with one of his ensembles. The crowds/audience where I have seen him perform (Australia) love him. My point is what the fuck was that audience? Can't/won't sing, some don't even applaud at the end WTF.

pokey for POTUS 2020!

Nice to see that there are still very intelligent and educated people in the US (just joking.....a bit)

I'd love a chance to debate the 22 people who took the time to click on the " thumbs down " icon..................just because I know I would be 22 and 0 at the end of the day. It's an ego thing. LOL I am a recent fan , but am truly inspired by everything I have heard. And this clip changes nothing.

I think he slightly misunderstood Billy Bragg's point. Like many things in life people often don't understand or appreciate what is under their nose. An outsider can appreciate and give life to something that is under appreciated in its own land. Bragg's argument though maybe not water tight is a valid one. Don't forget even American legends like Jimi Hendrix were ignored in the USA and had to come to the UK to find an audience.

13 people are still evolving.

Could this be a Smithsonian entry?

Recreating your history to use it against you..... agreed