The spirit of Hubert Humphrey is the same spirit that brought the Farmers Union up in this country. I worked at the Minnesota state chapter of that org for 4 years trying to find an ember of that spirit in rural MN, so I could reignite it statewide. I was shortsighted to think I could do that all on my own, but I'm glad to know that the spirit is still spreading. It's more than an ember now. It's a warm hearth in homes of all kinds.
In the '60s many of us went around singing Little Songs on Big Subjects, and a few more were written in that decade of social and political unrest. Here's a taste of what we maybe need to start teaching again: Little Songs on Big Subjects is long out of production. Searches on the web currently yield no copies for sale. ( During that same time The Kingston Trio was singing: They're Rioting in Africa... and Bob Dillon penned With God on Our Side)
Lou Singer & Hy Zaret (c. 1948)
There were 11 songs: “What Makes a Good American,” “Brown-Skinned Cow,” “Columbus Said, “Si, Si, Signor”,” “I’m Proud to Be Me,” “Close Your Eyes and Point Your Finger,” “Ol’ Commodore Gray,” “Traveling Broadens One,” “It Could Be a Wonderful World,” “There Were Thirteen Colonies,” “I’ve Got a Church, You’ve Got a Church,” and “American Hymn.”
“Close Your Eyes and Point Your Finger,” one of the first tunes that had a special meaning for my family caused the parent of a daycamper to call and raise the roof over the teaching of a "sex song" to her young child. He'd come home singing: close your eyes and point your finger; on a mattress let it linger!
Here are the lyrics :
Close your eyes and point your finger,
On the map just let it linger —
Any place you point your finger to,
There’s someone with the same type blood as you!
England, China or Alaska,
Mexico or Madagascar,
Indonesia, Ireland or Peru —
There’s someone with the same type blood as you!
No type of blood is better,
No type of blood is best,
Each type of blood is just as good —
No better than the rest!
Close your eyes and point your finger,
On the map just let it linger —
Any place you point your finger to,
There’s someone with the same type blood as you!
In the mountains or in the valleys,
Rich hotels or slum-like alleys —
Any place you point your finger to,
There’s someone with the same type blood as you!
Plumbers, bankers, men of science,
Clerks or teachers, dwarfs or giants —
Makes no difference what they are or do,
There’s someone with the same type blood as you!
It may be “A” or “AB”,
It may be “B” or “O”,
Whatever type it may be, sir,
There’s one thing you should know:
Nature has no fav’rite nation,
Color, creed, or occupation —
Any place you point your finger to,
There’s someone with the same type blood as you!
Someday you may be in danger;
Then along will come a stranger
With a bit of blood to pull you through…
A stranger’s blood may save your life for you!
Close your eyes and point your finger,
On the map just let it linger —
Any place you point your finger to,
There’s someone with the same type blood as you!
[These lyrics were copied from the original record sleeve.]
I want this printed in the NYTimes, the Atlantic, Politico, Fox fucking news. This is an outstanding essay.
That's very kind, Susan. It felt really personal, this one, so I'm so glad that it resonated.
Reading this on a train which feels right. And in happy tears at the picture of all those letters printed out. There are more of us.
and now I want to get on a train so badly :)
Reading this beautiful essay immediately after this Atlantic piece (via a gift link on Bluesky) was, for a change, a positive way to start my day: https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/01/the-neighbors-defending-minnesota-from-ice/685769/?gift=Uo5UYqR8Zs8XDDhkaf0UcR14wAqEhYZgOnWH7AE2N2s
an incredible piece, that one
The photo of the love letters at the school ❤️
my heart!
The spirit of Hubert Humphrey is the same spirit that brought the Farmers Union up in this country. I worked at the Minnesota state chapter of that org for 4 years trying to find an ember of that spirit in rural MN, so I could reignite it statewide. I was shortsighted to think I could do that all on my own, but I'm glad to know that the spirit is still spreading. It's more than an ember now. It's a warm hearth in homes of all kinds.
Brita, you worked at the Farmers Union???? Thank you!!
In the '60s many of us went around singing Little Songs on Big Subjects, and a few more were written in that decade of social and political unrest. Here's a taste of what we maybe need to start teaching again: Little Songs on Big Subjects is long out of production. Searches on the web currently yield no copies for sale. ( During that same time The Kingston Trio was singing: They're Rioting in Africa... and Bob Dillon penned With God on Our Side)
Lou Singer & Hy Zaret (c. 1948)
There were 11 songs: “What Makes a Good American,” “Brown-Skinned Cow,” “Columbus Said, “Si, Si, Signor”,” “I’m Proud to Be Me,” “Close Your Eyes and Point Your Finger,” “Ol’ Commodore Gray,” “Traveling Broadens One,” “It Could Be a Wonderful World,” “There Were Thirteen Colonies,” “I’ve Got a Church, You’ve Got a Church,” and “American Hymn.”
“Close Your Eyes and Point Your Finger,” one of the first tunes that had a special meaning for my family caused the parent of a daycamper to call and raise the roof over the teaching of a "sex song" to her young child. He'd come home singing: close your eyes and point your finger; on a mattress let it linger!
Here are the lyrics :
Close your eyes and point your finger,
On the map just let it linger —
Any place you point your finger to,
There’s someone with the same type blood as you!
England, China or Alaska,
Mexico or Madagascar,
Indonesia, Ireland or Peru —
There’s someone with the same type blood as you!
No type of blood is better,
No type of blood is best,
Each type of blood is just as good —
No better than the rest!
Close your eyes and point your finger,
On the map just let it linger —
Any place you point your finger to,
There’s someone with the same type blood as you!
In the mountains or in the valleys,
Rich hotels or slum-like alleys —
Any place you point your finger to,
There’s someone with the same type blood as you!
Plumbers, bankers, men of science,
Clerks or teachers, dwarfs or giants —
Makes no difference what they are or do,
There’s someone with the same type blood as you!
It may be “A” or “AB”,
It may be “B” or “O”,
Whatever type it may be, sir,
There’s one thing you should know:
Nature has no fav’rite nation,
Color, creed, or occupation —
Any place you point your finger to,
There’s someone with the same type blood as you!
Someday you may be in danger;
Then along will come a stranger
With a bit of blood to pull you through…
A stranger’s blood may save your life for you!
Close your eyes and point your finger,
On the map just let it linger —
Any place you point your finger to,
There’s someone with the same type blood as you!
[These lyrics were copied from the original record sleeve.]
Words: Hy Zaret
Music : Lou Singer
© 1947 Oliver Music & Argosy Music (ASCAP)
So so beautiful!!
This is the whole story. 🍞