Life Under Compulsion

This week’s Anthony Esolen Speaks comes from my book, Life Under Compulsion: Ten Ways to Destroy the Humanity of Your Child, (ISI Books).

Rummaging about in an old book store this summer, I found a copy of a Community Song Book, printed in Canada and falling apart, apparently from long and constant use.  The book was filled with genuine folk songs, that is, songs beloved by the people and passed down from one generation to the next, because they were beloved.  There was quite a broad range, too, in this little book.  There were anthems, and since this was Canada, that meant not only O Canada, its lyrics unexpurgated by the thought police, but also the boisterous Rule, Britannia and The Marseillaise.  There were sweet love songs, like Annie Laurie and Loch Lomond and Juanita.  There were gently mournful songs of sorrow and loss; silly playful songs; songs from the American south, from Hawaii (Aloha, Oe), from all over Europe.

Like dew on the gowan lying
Is the fa’ o’ her fairy feet;
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