Eisler on the go, Eisler on the move
Brother is on the vinegar truck
And I don't know what I'll do
I don't know what I'll do
I don't know what I'll do
Eisler's on the come and go
And I don't know what I'll do
Eisler on the farm, Eisler on the town
Sister in the tickly bush
And I don't know what I'll do
Eisler on the boat, Eisler on the ship
Daddy on the hen house roof
And I don't know what I'll do
Eisler in the jailoe, Eisler back at home
Rankin scratch his head and cry
And I don't know what I'll do
Eisler him write music, Eisler him teach school
Truman him don't play so good
And I don't know what I'll do


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Eisler on the Go Lyrics as written by Woody Guthrie Billy Bragg

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.

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Eisler on the Go song meanings
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  • 0
    General Comment

    I think this songs refers to Gerhart Eisler and the House of Un-American Activities interviews of suspected Communists. He was arrested and jailed ("Eisler in the jailoe") He eventually fled to Poland on the liner Batory ("Eisler on the boat, Eisler on the ship"). In November 1946, Gerhart Eisler had to appear before the Wood-Rankin Committee ("Eisler back at home, Rankin scratch his head and cry").

    ozzieronon February 12, 2014   Link
  • 0
    My Interpretation

    I think this is about Hanns Eisler, an Austian composer who was either socialist or communist deported during the McCarthy era. "I don't know what I'll do" I believe refers to Woody wrestling w/ what he would do if forced to testify before the Housse of unAmerican activities.

    OneWithWoodon August 22, 2016   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    ozzieron is right about Gerhart Eisler, who was suspected to be a soviet spy. Hanns Eisler, his brother and a pupil of Arnold Schönberg, was therefore also called before the House of Un-American Activities (as Bertolt Brecht, which Eisler often worked with, was too). He left the USA for East Berlin, before he could be deported. He than wrote the music for the national anthem of the DDR (words by Johannes R. Becher: "Auferstanden aus Ruinen").

    benedix100on March 18, 2018   Link

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